ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—India’s prime minister made a surprise stop Friday in Pakistan to meet the country’s premier in a gesture likely to lend momentum to a tentative reconciliation process between the estranged, nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif embraced India’s Narendra Modi when greeting him at the airport in the eastern city of Lahore. The visit, the first by an Indian prime minister to Pakistan in more than a decade, coincided with Mr. Sharif’s birthday.
“This was a goodwill visit, in which it was decided that both countries will have to examine each other’s concerns, to understand each other’s issues, and open up ways to peace,” said Aizaz Chaudhry, Pakistan’s foreign secretary.
New Delhi and Islamabad agreed earlier this month to restart a comprehensive dialogue aimed at improving relations. The two countries have fought three wars since independence from the U.K. in 1947. Among the issues are rival claims to the region of Kashmir.
Mr. Modi’s trip was heavy with symbolism. Lahore is Mr. Sharif’s hometown. Not only was Friday Mr. Sharif’s birthday, but his family was also celebrating a wedding. December 25 is also the birthday of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
“I’m amazed myself, quite honestly. This is undoubtedly a very fine gesture by the Indian prime minister. It makes it very personal,” said Mahmud Durrani, former national security adviser and a retired Pakistani general. “My hope has risen. We hope something positive develops from this.”
Mr. Modi, on a visit to Kabul, called Mr. Sharif Friday morning at around 11:30 a.m., Pakistan time (0630 GMT), to wish him happy birthday and said that he wanted to stop over to see the Pakistani leader on his way back to India, which Mr. Sharif welcomed, said Mr. Chaudhry.
The Indian Prime Minister arrived around 4:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT), staying for a couple of hours in Pakistan—at Mr. Sharif’s private home.
“Spent a warm evening with Sharif family at their family home. Nawaz Sahab’s birthday & granddaughter’s marriage made it a double celebration,” said a tweet on Mr. Modi’s official Twitter account.
The foreign secretaries of the two countries are to meet in January to decide how the peace dialogue will proceed, said Sartaj Aziz, Mr. Sharif’s special adviser on foreign affairs. “All issues are on the table,” Mr. Aziz said.
The core of the dispute between the two countries is the mountainous region of Kashmir, which is claimed by both countries. Delhi accuses Pakistan of sponsoring jihadist groups that attack India and wants the masterminds of a 2008 attack on Mumbai that killed 166 people to face justice.
Islamabad alleges that India supports violent groups in Pakistan, including a separatist movement in its western province of Balochistan.
In the last few weeks, the two countries have begun to mend ties, following tension that has erupted into regular exchanges of fire across the border for the last year and a half.
While the main opposition political parties in Pakistan welcomed the visit, Mr. Modi faced criticism in India from his parliamentary foes. The opposition Congress party said the visit lacked “seriousness” and any substantive guarantees from Pakistan on major issues like the prosecution of those accused in the Mumbai attacks.
“If cross-border militancy from Pakistan stops, latent goodwill in India will surface,” saidRadha Kumar, head of the Delhi Policy Group, an Indian think tank. “Peace with Pakistan has been a top priority of successive Indian governments, which has been interrupted by acts of terrorism.”
As well as the betterment of India-Pakistan ties, progress could improve the prospects for stability in Afghanistan, where the countries are in competition for influence, a rivalry that is a driver of the long-running war in Afghanistan, analysts said.
Pakistan is alleged to support the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan as a way of countering Indian influence there, a charge that Islamabad denies.
Earlier Friday, in his first visit to Afghanistan, Mr. Modi held discussions with that country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, and inaugurated the Afghan parliament building in Kabul, which was funded by Indian government at a cost of $90 million.
“Afghanistan will succeed only when terrorism no longer flows across the border, when nurseries and sanctuaries of terrorism are shut and their patrons are no longer in business,” Mr. Modi said in his speech to Afghan parliamentarians, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. “Terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future.”
Mr. Modi reiterated India’s full support to Afghanistan for strengthening its defensive capabilities in particular improving Afghanistan’s Air Force, which heavily rely on U.S. Army planes and helicopters to provide air support while combating the widening insurgency in the country.
During Mr. Modi’s visit, India announced 500 scholarships for the children of killed members of Afghan security forces.
Mr. Ghani thanked India for its “valuable assistance” to Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan is not hostile to anyone and we want friendship,” Mr. Ghani said. “Our entire nation wants lasting and dignified peace.”
Write to Saeed Shah at saeed.shah@wsj.com
Source: wsj.com