LAHORE, Dec 26: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Pakistan on Friday to meet his counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, the first time an Indian premier has visited the rival nation in over a decade.
The visit, requested by Modi just hours earlier before he flew back home from AfghanistanSharif hugged Modi after he landed at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore and the two left by helicopter for Sharif's nearby family estate.
"So, you have finally come," Sharif told Modi, according to a Pakistani foreign ministry official who was at the meeting.
"Yes, absolutely. I am here," Modi replied, according to the official.
It was Sharif's 66th birthday and the family home was festooned with lights for his grand-daughter's wedding on Saturday. Modi and Sharif talked for about 90 minutes and shared an early evening meal before the Indian leader flew back home.
Is Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan a masterstroke?, this will be ckleared in coming days.
|