The Pakistan government on Friday described as a "goodwill gesture" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise visit to Lahore where he met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
"It was a goodwill gesture on the part of the Indian prime minister," Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry told the media.
"Prime Minister Sharif has welcomed this," he added.
On his way back to New Delhi from Kabul, Modi made a sudden stopover in Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and took part in the wedding celebrations of the latter's granddaughter.
After blessing the bride during the 90-minute visit to Sharif's ancestral home at Raiwind, 40 km from here, Modi later flew to New Delhi.
Chaudhury said that both the leaders agreed to carry forward the peace process and broaden bilateral contacts.
"Both the leaders decided to continue the dialogue in the greater interest of people of the two nations," he said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
