In this photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on December 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. AFP PHOTO / PIB
Lahore - It is Modi's first visit to Pakistan, and the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 11 years.
Published: Fri 25 Dec 2015, 11:15 AM
Updated: Sat 26 Dec 2015, 9:59 AM
On his way home from Kabul, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flew into Lahore for a surprise meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and both leaders vowed to pursue the derailed bilateral peace process, officials said.
Modi and Sharif spent some 90 minutes at Sharif's ancestral residence in Raiwind town, about 40km from here, and decided to continue the suspended dialogue between the two countries after months of border tensions.
What Modi did in PakistanIt was a surprise visit by Narendra Modi to Pakistan and it had a personal touch.
Here is the details bout Indian Prime Minister's friendly gesture towards the neighbour.
At 2pm local time, Prime Minister's Office tweeted about Modi's plan to visit Lahore.
"CEO Abdullah and PM @narendramodi at the airport. PM will travel to Lahore where he will meet PM Nawaz Sharif," the tweet said.
At 3.30, Modi reached Lahore. His Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif received Modi at the airport. Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted: "A commitment to cooperation in South Asia. PM @narendramodi received by PM Sharif at Lahore"
Modi greeted Sharif on his birthday at the airport. After the warm welcome, for the first time, both the leaders flew to Nawaz Sharif's home together in a chopper.
Modi reached Sharif's house at 4.10.
Another tweet from Vikas Swarup read: "Family matters. PM visits PM Sharif's home in a special gesture, where his grand-daughter's wedding is being held."
At Sharif's house in Raiwind, after blessing the bride, Modi had a personal talk with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
Later, Pakistani foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhary said both leaders expressed desire to carry forward dialogue process for larger good of the people of both nations.
Modi left Nawaz's house at 5.20pm to the Lahore airport, accompanied by Nawaz Sharif.
At 5.45pm, Modi boarded the flight for Delhi. The tweet from Vikas Swarup said: "Infusing a positive spirit in the neighborhood. PM @narendramodi departs from Pakistan after a few hours in Lahore."
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It was a telephone call from Modi from Kabul greeting Sharif on his birthday which triggered the dramatic journey -- his first to Pakistan and the first by any Indian prime minister in 11 years.
Sharif had attended Modi's oath taking in New Delhi in May 2014.
Also read: So, you've finally come
A Pakistani official said Modi also blessed the granddaughter of Sharif on her wedding. "Modi had no clue about the wedding," he said.
The Indian leader, who sipped Kashmiri tea while meeting Sharif, also met the Pakistani leader's mother.
Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "Infusing a positive spirit in the neighbourhood. Modi departs from Lahore after a few hours in Lahore."
Modi reportedly told Sharif that it was important for the leadership of the two countries to understand each other's position. The Pakistani media said the two leaders had decided to take forward their bilateral relations for the benefit of South Asia.
Modi and Sharif agreed to promote people-to-people contacts and confidence building measures.
Sharif and his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were among the VIPs who received Modi at the Allama Iqbal International Airport as Modi landed in an Indian Air Force plane. The two leaders then took a helicopter to Raiwind.
Geo TV reported that the visit "was not that surprising" as the Lahore Air Traffic Control had been told about it on Thursday.
But few in India and Pakistan knew about the programme, which came at a time when bilateral relations have shown definite improvement after months of tensions and border clashes.
The Pakistan Air Force presented a guard of honour for Modi.
Modi and Sharif had fleetingly met at the Paris Climate Summit on November 30, preparing the atmosphere for a resumption of the stalled bilateral dialogue.
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who accompanied Modi to Lahore, met his Pakistani counterpart in Bangkok earlier this month. This was followed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad.
The two foreign secretaries are set to meet in January, also in the Pakistani capital.
Hours before he left for Lahore, Modi addressed the Afghan parliament and blasted Islamabad - but without naming the country - for sponsoring terrorism in Afghanistan.
"Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices Afghans make," Modi told Afghan MPs. Modi reached Kabul early on Friday after a two-day visit to Russia.
In an obvious reference to Pakistan, Modi said there were "some who did not want us to be here".
"There were those who saw sinister designs in our presence here. There are others who were uneasy at the strength of our partnership. Some even tried to discourage us."
At the same time, Modi said Pakistan must act like a bridge between South Asia and Afghanistan.
"All of us in the region - India, Pakistan, Iran and others - must unite, in trust and cooperation, behind this common purpose and in recognition of our common destiny."
In this photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on December 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (R) and Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif hug on meeting in Lahore. AFP PHOTO / PIB
In this photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on December 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (CL) and Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif (CR) look on during a meeting in Lahore. AFP PHOTO / PIB
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by a girl as his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif looks on upon his arrival in Lahore.
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