NEW DELHI: Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise visit to Pakistan a transformative moment in the subcontinent, BJP on Saturday said it has provided yet another opportunity to write a new chapter in the difficult Indo-Pak relationship and rejected Congress criticism as childish.
The party hailed Modi for his courage, vision, skill and imagination, saying pursuit of peace in the complex region with its history of fraught ties between the two countries required such courage.
BJP spokesperson M J Akbar also noted at a press conference that it required two authors reading from the same page to write a new chapter while asserting that the peace process between the two neighbours has been revived in an extraordinary manner.
Warm personal relation between Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif is symptomatic of the diplomatic thaw that has taken place, he said.
The party expresses its deep admiration for the Prime Minister for his courage, vision, imagination and skill in creating a transformative moment on the sub-continent.
Search of peace does not meant that we have already found it. But the process particularly in a region with as many complex problems as ours, history as ours; the pursuit of peace, always a fragile commodity, requires kind of courage shown in Lahore, Akbar said and also admired Sharif for his leadership.
We also extend our congratulations to Pakistan Prime Minister for his vision and leadership in this pursuit of peace, he said.
Asked about Congress charge that an industrialist had arranged the meeting in Lahore and that Modis visit was meant to promote private business interests, he shot back, What can be an answer to such childishness . This is not only absolutely incorrect but also reflects on the brains of people raising such questions.
Unfortunately, there are one or two parties which are preferring partisan politics over national interest. Hope they will understand that the Prime Ministers vision is for common good, he said, adding that Modi will visit Pakistan next year for the SAARC Summit if all goes well.
He, however, added that all seeds of such a relationship are laid in silence and adding that a number of meetings, including the NSA-level talks in Bangkok, Modis meeting with Sharif in Paris and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs visit to Pakistan helped create a conducive atmosphere.
Advani says Vajpayee’s initiative needs to be taken forward
GANDHIDHAM: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise Lahore visit, BJP veteran L K Advani has said Modi and other leaders in government should work to carry forward Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s initiative for improving Indo-Pak ties and get rid of problem of terrorism.
“The efforts initiated by Vajpayee ji need to be taken forward,” Advani said on a question of surprise visit of Modi to Lahore yesterday.
“Modiji and others in government should steadfastly improve relationship with Pakistan and get rid of terrorism, which has been an issue between both the countries,” Advani said.
Former Prime Minister Vajpayee had travelled to Lahore in a bus from India in 1999 and started a peace initiative with Pakistan in 2004.
UN hails Lahore meet
WASHINGTON: UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon have welcomed Indian premier Narendra Modi visit to Pakistan.
According to media reports, UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon while hailing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Pakistan said, the visit will not only lead to bring improvement in relations between Pakistan and India but it will also leave positive impact on the region.
UN secretary general said that talks process will not only continue but will also gain further strength following the meeting between premiers of two countries at Lahore.
China ‘happy’
Beijing: China Saturday said, it “welcomes” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise Friday visit to Pakistan, saying it would “support” India and Pakistan to “enhance mutual trust” and have “continuous dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said that China was “happy to see and will support, as always, Pakistan and Indian to enhance mutual trust”, adding that it was a “common neighbour and friend of both Pakistan and India”.
“The Chinese side welcomes the latest development in the Pakistan-India relationship,” Lu said, adding that India and Pakistan were “important countries in south Asia” and that “the improvement of their relationship will be significant to regional peace, stability and development.”
He said China would support efforts of both countries “to achieve common development through continuous dialogue”, in a reference to the recent interruptions in the dialogue process.
The recent improvement in relations has been welcomed in Beijing, which has close ties with its “all weather” strategic ally Islamabad.
“There is no doubt of course China will welcome this development,” said Ma Jiali, a leading South Asia expert at the Communist Party School and China Reform Forum, in an interview to India Today. “China’s attitude towards India and Pakistan is that we would like to see improvement of relations,” he said.
Ma praised the Modi government for its outreach to Pakistan. “Modi wants to improve relations with the neighbours. This is an important step and will improve the environment,” he added. “Till now, India’s regional diplomacy has improved and to some extent India has enhanced relations with all neighbours.”
While Beijing enjoys close relations with Pakistan, China has in recent years sought to strike a better balance in ties with India against the backdrop of rising trade and common concerns with India on issues such as terrorism. Agencies
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