TIA NEWS //LAHORE :
In a major development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in Lahore today.
PM Narendra Modi landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport today, where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was present to receive him.
This is the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian premier in more than a decade. A short meeting between the two heads will take place at the airport, the statement added.
Security in and around the Allama Iqbal International Airport has been beefed up, with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also present at the airport to receive Modi.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and wished him on his birthday. In a tweet, Mr Modi said he is looking forward to meeting Mr Nawaz Sharif in Lahore this afternoon, where he will drop by on his way back to Delhi.
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s unscheduled visit to Pakistan has taken most of political parties including ruling Bhartiya Janata party and political observers by surprise.
According to tweet by former chief minister Umar Abdullah Modi had been presurised by the present chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to visit Pakistan. But there are few takers of claims made by former chief minister.
Neither Muflti Mohammad Sayeed nor Mehbooba Mufti did not take phone calls from Media. The between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Shariff would hold two hours meeting at Punjab governor’s residence in Lahore befor Modi returns to New Delhi. Last Indian prime minister who visited Pakistan was Atal Bihari Vajpayee eleven years ago.
Major opposition party, Congress, questioned Modi’s visit to Pakistan, saying serious information like this should not have been revealed through Twitter, reported Times of India.
“It is unfortunate that we get to know about prime minister’s visit through a tweet… India and Pakistan relations are not so good as yet that he stops over there on his way back from another country,” Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said.
Congress leader Manish Tewari called it an “adventure” by the Indian prime minister.
updated at 5:02