Narendra Modi visits Pakistan: Congress, AAP slam decision; VHP, Sena, separatists support BJP

Political parties had mixed reactions to Narendra Modi’s first official visit to Pakistan as prime minister on Friday, with Congress even terming it an “adventure” and BJP coming out in support of Modi. The prime minister landed in Lahore in his special IAF Boeing 737 plane at 4:20 pm local time (4.50 pm IST). Nawaz Sharif personally received Modi at the tarmac and the two shook hands and shared a hug.

The two prime ministers then boarded a helicopter to their next destination: Sharif’s ancestral home, Raiwind Palace in the small town of Jati Umra.

Sharif’s brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were in the receiving party. Indian envoy, TCA Raghavan, was also present. Modi arrived with with a 120-member delegation, officials said, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

This is the first trip by an Indian prime minister to the country in 11 years. The visit is being touted as an unplanned one, with Modi making the announcement on Twitter on Saturday morning after he called Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to wish him a happy birthday.

Modi reached Lahore from Kabul, where he he had earlier inaugurated the Afghan Parliament and spoke about the need for South Asian nations to work together. He was sent off by the Chief Executive of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah and was supposed to fly back to Delhi but on Saturday afternoon he announced that he will stop over at Lahore instead.

Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

The meeting is a momentous one as it comes after both sides have shown that they are interested in peace talks. As previously reported , Sharif and Modi met on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Change summit in November. Soon after, came the ‘secret’ meeting in Bangkok between national security advisors Ajit Doval and Nasir Janjua, miles away from the media glare in India and Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj even made a visit to Pakistan officially for the Heart of Asia Summit — but presumably to also lay the foundation for Modi’s call on birthday boy Nawaz — where apart from the Pakistani PM, she met Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz as well.

Modi’s announcement of the visit drew sharp reactions from opposition party Congress. “It is unfortunate that we get to know about prime minister’s visit through a tweet… India and Pakistan relations are not so good as yet that he stops over there on his way back from another country,” Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar told IANS.

“The parliament session got over just a few days back, why was the parliament and the country left in dark. Why didn’t the prime minister take the country and parliament in confidence,” he questioned.

Congress leader Manish Tewari called it an “adventure” by the Indian prime minister. “This adventure of prime minister will have serious impact on national security, there were no changes in relationship (with Pakistan) by NSA talks, or Heart of Asia conference. Eventually prime minister needs to answer what has changed in ground situation,” Tewari said.

Senior AAP leader Ashutosh also opposed the meeting:

क्या पाकिस्तान ने आतंकवाद पूरी तरह से बंद कर दिया है कि प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी को नवाज़ शरीफ़ पर इतना प्यार दुलार आ रहा है ???

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) December 25, 2015

it's BJP/Modi who has been opposing talks with Pak during Manmohan time under the pretext of Pak sponsored terrorism. What has changed now ?

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) December 25, 2015

We have always been saying-engagement with Pak is needed but BJP was opposing.Now they should explain-इतना याराना क्यों लग रहा है मोदी जी ?

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) December 25, 2015

However, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj came out in support of the prime minister, calling him a “statesman” on Twitter.

That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen. https://t.co/dM26am9tWf

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 25, 2015

CPI(M) also welcomed the visit, with member Md Salim stressing on the need for “consistent and regular” dialogue for lasting peace.

As a Leftist, I welcome any step towards peace & cooperation with Pakistan. We should move beyond photo-ops & personal bonhomie. (1/2)

— Md Salim (@salimdotcomrade) December 25, 2015

Consistent,regular dialogues & more people 2 people contact essential 4 lasting peaceful legacy. Negates hate-mongerers & terrorists. (2/2)

— Md Salim (@salimdotcomrade) December 25, 2015

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also supported Modi, saying the visit is a step in the right direction.

“It indicates the Prime Minister’s resolve to enter into a long-term strategic partnership with Pakistan,” the chief minister said in a statement. He hoped that the meeting between the two leaders will provide the much-needed momentum to the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue for peaceful resolution of all issues between the two countries. This initiative, besides being a great step towards improvement of bilateral relations, will also give impetus to the concept of SAARC, he added.

Separatists in Srinagar too hailed Modi’s visit. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed it “a positive move” and hardline faction leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani said they have no objection to improved relations between India and Pakistan.

“We do not have any issues with relations improving between India and Pakistan… No right thinking persons shall have any reservation on it. However, the two countries have to address the Kashmir issue as per wishes and aspirations of the people if these endeavours are to succeed,” Geelani told PTI. “We hope that Pakistan will also remain steadfast on its stand on Kashmir issue.”

Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan is a positive move. People of Kashmir welcome any opportunity that bring India and Pakistan close… Political will and vision is needed on all sides to address issues, specially Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, Abdul Gani Bhat, head of Muslim Conference, a constituent of the moderate Hurriyat faction, said his party supports the resumption of dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

“Muslim Conference pledges support to the resumption of what is now termed as comprehensive dialogue to resolve all disputes, including of course the dispute on Kashmir, and consider this development as an effectively civilised means to move out from the frozen yesterdays to a peacefully productive tomorrow,” Bhat said.

BJP ally Shiv Sena and Vishwa Hindu Parishad offered their conditional support to the visit.

“Will Dawood Ibrahim be given to India after today’s meeting (between Modi and Sharif)? If this happens, we welcome this visit,” Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said in Mumbai.

VHP international working president Pravin Togadia said in a statement issued in Allahabad that “whatever may be the reasons behind the Prime Minister’s surprise visit to Lahore, we hope that his tour of Pakistan leads to effective action by the neighboring country against terrorists operating from their soil… Pakistan is also the land where 1993 Mumbai serial blasts accused and underworld Dawood Ibrahim has been hiding for more than two decades. The neighboring country has so far been in a state of denial in this regard… We hope that our dashing and dynamic PM Modiji’s intervention will bring about a radical change”, Togadia said.

He said “we also sincerely hope that Modiji will compel Pakistan to take effective action against Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi both of whom have been roaming scot-free in the neighboring country despite their involvement in the dastardly terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26 November, 2008.”

Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairperson of the Pakistani opposition party PPP, tweeted his support for the meeting

Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi . Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) December 25, 2015

With inputs from PTI and IANS