Sharif invites, Modi accepts, as simple as that
Indrani Bagchi ! TNN ! Dec 26,2015
NEW DELHI: How did PM Narendra Modi, who was supposed to only do Moscow and Kabul, end up in Lahore?
After his address in the new Afghan Parliament, a speech which Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president till 2014, told the PM brought tears to 30 million countrymen, Modi got into his car and dialled Nawaz Sharif to wish him on his birthday. Sharif informed Modi he was not in Islamabad but in Lahore to attend his granddaughter's wedding.
Sharif then invited Modi over: "Since you would be flying over my country anyway, why don't you drop by?"
Modi, acting on a mix of impulse and strategy, agreed to stop over for tea with the Pakistan PM, leaving the Indian delegation as well as the security set-up stunned.
In Islamabad, Indian high commissioner TCA Raghavan, enjoying a lazy Christmas day, suddenly found he had just over three hours to get to Lahore to greet his PM. Sharif asked him laughing, "Raghavan saab, how many traffic lights did you jump to get here?"
What was the PM thinking? According to people close to the sudden development, there were two thoughts running through the PM's mind. First, when he had invited Sharif for his swearing-in on May 26, 2014, the Pakistani PM had battled internal odds and taken a leap of faith. Modi, who by all accounts was quite affected by the love showered on India in Afghanistan, decided he would take a similar leap of faith and reciprocate the gesture.
The second reason was that the PM wanted to break away from the shackles of officialdom when it comes to engaging with leaders in the neighbourhood. He figured if he proposed a visit to attend Sharif's granddaughter's wedding in Delhi, it would take nothing less than a Cabinet Committee on Security to clear it, not to speak of an avalanche of media attention, which he's been keen to avoid.
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In a way, he was echoing the sentiments of his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who said it should be absolutely natural for South Asian leaders to come to each other's capitals for a chat or a meal.
Anyway, having lit a fire among his officials and security, Modi landed in Lahore to be greeted personally by Sharif. Protocol was simple and security was thin, which frankly was the greatest leap of faith by an Indian leader in Pakistan. An initial plan to drive to Raiwind was scuttled, when Sharif insisted they all travel together in his personal helicopter to his home.
Top Comment
very good and welcoming step by PM.
The PM left half of his delegation at Lahore airport while going off with Sharif. At home, which is a grand mansion all decorated for the wedding; Modi met everyone from the Sharif clan and blessed the bride while the Sharifs put out a handsome repast of pakoras, patties and dessert, all vegetarian.
Would the Afghans be disappointed that after such a stirring speech, Modi jumped off to visit the only country which is their neighbour and enemy?