US, UN Secretary General welcome Modi-Sharif meeting in Lahore

When Modi reached at Jati Umrah Raiwind residence, located on the outskirts of Lahore, Sharif’s son Hasan and other family members received him warmly. “Both leaders expressed their desire to carry forward the conversation process for the larger acceptable of the people of the two countries”, stated a press release from Pakistan’s foreign workplace.

Welcoming Modi’s visit, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that it would be helpful for peace and stability in the region.

Modi acting sharply to it agreed to stop over for a cup of tea, leaving everyone, including Indian delegation traveling with him stunned.

But just a few hours before landing in Lahore, Modi met with the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, and addressed the Afghan parliament in Kabul, in a visit that included explicit criticism of Pakistan for its role in sheltering the Taliban insurgency.

“We welcome the December 25 visit between PM Modi and PM (Nawaz) Sharif”.

“I can not confirm but there are chances that Modi goes to Raiwind and holds meeting with PM Sharif at his residence”, he said “Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi”.

“But yes, it’s a clear signal that active engagement can be done at a quick pace”, the aide said, declining to be identified. Pakistan and India both realise that peace in Afghanistan is a must and India can not achieve this by keeping Pakistan away from Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during the closing session of the 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014. Senior journalist and analyst Idrees Bakhtiar termed this visit a goodwill gesture, saying, “One should not pin high hopes for the resolution of major issues and disputes the two countries are carrying since decades”.

India has been upset with Pakistan for what it argues is support for Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, while Pakistan opposes India’s deliveries of attack helicopters to Kabul.

Now the ruling party BJP General Secretary said that the relationship with Pakistan needed a transformation adding that the Prime Minister has done a wonderful job by initiating this step.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party chief Imran Khan also welcomed Modi’s trip and said it will help improve ties between the two countries.

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, the Himalayan region that both countries claim. High-level talks were twice called off and violence has flared along the countries’ disputed, heavily militarized border. Congress leader Manish Tewari told ANI.

The building is the latest symbol of a longstanding diplomatic effort by New Delhi to cultivate its links to Afghanistan. “You know that India is here to contribute, not to compete; to lay the foundations of future, not light the flame of conflict; to rebuild lives, not destroy a nation”.