PM Modi working to a strategy: Swamy

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite dish “Saag” was among other vegetarian delicacies prepared for him during a lunch-cum-dinner at Jati Umrah residence of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

The previously unannounced visit is a potential sign of thawing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Hospitality: Modi and Sharif at the latter’s palatial home.

Sharif hugged Modi after he landed at the airport at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. Prime Minister Nawaz went to the airport afterwards to see his Indian “friend” off.

“PM Modi’s sudden stop over at Lahore to greet Pakiatan PM Nawaz Sharif is a much needed departure from protocol-driven politics between the two countries”.

Modi was on his way back from a visit to Russian Federation. Mr Chaudhry termed Mr Modi’s visit a “gesture of good will” and hoped that it will help resolve all of their outstanding issues when the two sides resume talks in the near future. “If this happens, we welcome this visit”, Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said in Mumbai. Hours later “Goodwill Hunting Modi” had made it to Pakistan for the first time in his life, which also marked the first visit across the border by an Indian PM in more than a decade.

The reports further said the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India may “prefer” to meet at a neutral venue instead of any of the two countries “to avoid any disturbance and keep it all secret”.

The announcement on the visit came from Modi himself yesterday morning in a tweet as he prepared to wind up his brief visit to Afghanistan.

Nehru, India’s first prime minister, made two visits to Pakistan: in 1953 and 1960.

Modi has sent mixed signals about Pakistan.

“Namo be given a free hand on Pakistan since he is working to a strategy”. “This is the best Christmas gift to the mankind which believes in peace and amity”.

Yet members of the opposition Congress party denounced the “unpredictable” act saying it lacked gravitas, with some complaining that such an important meeting should not have been announced on Twitter.

The Indian leader, who sipped Kashmiri tea while meeting Sharif, also met the Pakistani leader’s mother.

Renowned human rights activist Asma Jehangir said the Indian Prime Minister should play his role in stopping alleged human rights violation in Kashmir as well as reducing visa restrictions between the two countries. Several Pakistani cricketers and ghazal singers are popular in India and many Pakistani families have been visiting India for medical treatment and for other reasons.

Another concern for both countries is the frequent skirmishes along their border in Kashmir.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key separatist leader in the Indian portion of Kashmir, said: “It’s a welcome step”.

The UN has declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008.