In surprise visit, Indian PM Modi briefly stops in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan

In what is being coined as “birthday diplomacy,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to Pakistan on Friday while on his way back home from Afghanistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif turned 66 on Friday.

Modi landed in northeastern Lahore on short notice, sending Pakistani authorities rushing to manage security arrangements.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed that Modi’s visit was not scheduled and that he had expressed his wish to visit Pakistan just a few hours before he landed in Lahore.

Soon after his arrival, Modi flew to Sharif’s farmhouse in the suburbs of Lahore in a helicopter.

He stayed there for approximately 90 minutes and met Sharif’s family, kneeling before the Pakistani prime minister’s mother in a sign of respect.

The visit was the first by an Indian PM to Pakistan in 11 years. He said the two leaders agreed to continue the peace process aimed at resolving the decades-long disputes between the two nuclear rivals.

“It was just a goodwill visit,” Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said. “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and expressed his wish to visit Pakistan, which was warmly welcomed.”