In Impromptu Trip, Indian's Modi Visits Home of Pakistan's Sharif
by VOA News December 25, 2015
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan Friday -- the first visit by an Indian leader in 12 years -- included a stop at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's home.
'Family matters,' India's foreign affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup posted on Twitter, along with a photo of the pair at the Sharif residence in the town of Raiwind, outside Lahore, where the Pakistani leader is hosting his granddaughter's wedding.
According to Swarup's updates, Modi did not stay for the festivities.
'Looking forward'
The Indian leader announced earlier Friday while in Afghanistan that he was 'looking forward to meeting' with Sharif, who received Modi at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore.
Security forces and troops were beefed up at the Lahore International Airport shortly before Modi's arrival.
The two leaders immediately boarded a helicopter to Raiwind.
Modi also wished Sharif a happy 66th birthday.
;;;The prime ministers first resumed high-level contact between the two nations with a brief conversation two weeks ago at an international climate conference in Paris.
Strained relations
Relations between the nuclear neighbors have been strained for the entirety of Pakistan's existence, after it split off from India in 1947, both gaining independence from Britain.
The two nations have fought three wars since then, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which is ruled in part by each but claimed in entirety by both.
Earlier Friday in a speech to the Afghan parliament, Modi called for greater regional cooperation among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to bolster Afghanistan's development.
He said Afghanistan's success will require support of each of its neighbors. In that list he included not just India and Pakistan, but also Iran 'and others' in the region as Afghanistan fights terrorism and works to establish a strong government.
'Significant role'
Analysts said the visit was an important development.
'I think it is going to play a significant role in improving ties between the two South Asian archrivals,' said Amanullah Memon, a professor of international relations at a private university in the capital, Islamabad.
However, a close aide to Modi told Reuters it was a spontaneous decision taken by the prime minister and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and that it should not be seen as a sudden shift in India's position.
'But yes, it's a clear signal that active engagement can be done at a quick pace,' the aide said, declining to be identified.
Some material for this report came from AP and Reuters.
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