Modi-Sharif
brief meeting In New Delhi
-DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL
_______________
The invitation sent
by Indian premier elect Narandra Modi to the SAARC leaders, especailly
Pakistni premier Mian Nawaz Sharif signaled a new beginning in India's
external affairs.
Indo-Pakistnai relations
have been in a low key for various reasons, both real and fictitious.
The nearly hour long
bilateral meeting on 27th May between Prime Ministers of India and
Pakistan, Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif at Hyderabad House, the residence of
Vice Presidient of India Dr. Hamid Ansari, New Delhi ended
without any communique announced so far.
By all standards, the
meeting was a casual friendly and warm up ties and they are not
expected to make any policy decisions over a cup of high tea. .
What have transpired
between the two leaders during their meeting on Tuesday afternoon was not
known. The two leaders are believed to have held consultations on issues of
mutual interest related to the two countries.
However, Indian meida
reports that Modi, like his predecessors had done befhr ehim, asked
Pakistni premeir to stop cross border terrorism into Indian
soil Since such has always been the reporting of faantic Indian
media to keep Hindu fanatics in good humors and
as such this usual Indian bully directed
at Islamabad cannot be taken as its face value.
Sharif was seen being
escorted by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj following the meeting as
Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to have a meeting with Bangladesh Parliament
Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.
Earlier, before the meeting
started, Sharif and Modi shook hands and exchanged pleasantries during their
photo opportunity before moving inside for bilateral talks in the presence of
officials from both sides. In the morning, Modi met leaders from Afghanistan,
Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Mauritus and Nepal.
Narendra Modi started his
day of his new duties as Indian PM by assuming charge at the Prime
Minister's Office knwon is short as the PMO. Narendra Modi was
administered oath of office and secrecy by President Pranab Mukherjee as
India's 15th Prime Minister along with his 44-member Cabinet on Monday
evening.
One
thing common between India and Pakistan is the
importance of crony capitalism for them as they promote
the corporate lords and help them grow their wealth. Although Modi is not
a industrialist himself, Sharif very much is.
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