June 17, 2015
News
Amid sour ties, Modi reaches out to Nawaz
*Indian PM calls Pakistani counterpart to greet him on the advent of Ramazan g Announces to release Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails, as a goodwill gesture
By Farooq Awan
ISLAMABAD: Days after parliament unanimously passed strongly worded resolutions to condemn Narendra Modi’s remarks on his country’s involvement in the break-up of Pakistan in 1971, the Indian prime minister reached out to his counterpart in Islamabad on Tuesday to greet him on the advent of holy month of Ramazan and convey that his government had decided to release Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails, as a goodwill gesture.
“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and greeted him on the advent of holy month of Ramazan,” a statement issued by the prime minister’s office read.
Modi, according to the official communiqué, expressed his desire to have good relations with Pakistan. Nawaz, in response, said both countries should move forward towards peace and tranquillity by leaving behind mutual differences so that people in two countries remember their leaders in good words. “Being neighbours, we should not be talking about war, but work for peace and prosperity. We must live in a state of peace and not allow our mutual differences to hinder path of peace,” he told Modi.
Prime Minister Nawaz held that leaders are like heads of families and they must endeavour for safety and goodness of their families by sheltering them from disputes and troubles. “Leaders prefer welfare of families by ensuring peace,” he maintained.
Modi also tweeted some details of his conversation with his Pakistani counterpart. “The fishermen released will be able to be with their families to observe this blessed month (Ramazan),” he said on his Twitter account.
The conversation between the two prime ministers that lasted for around five minutes is the first after a series of strong words from both sides apparently soured the already fragile relationship between the two neighbours.
Modi also called his counterparts in Afghanistan and Bangladesh to ‘extend wishes for the holy month of Ramazan’.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk