Sharif, Modi meeting has 'underlying conflict of interest': Imran Khan

Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Saturday took to Twitter, terming the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi a "conflict of interest".

Although the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman was welcoming of the revived relations between the arch rivals, he was also of the opinion that conducting a meeting arranged by a business associate has "an underlying conflict of interest".

"We welcome the thaw in Pak-India relations, but to have a business associate arrange the two prime ministers' meetings has an underlying conflict of interest," he tweeted.

Referring to an earlier secret meeting between the two leaders, he said, "Meetings of the two prime ministers, from the secret meeting in Kathmandu to the one in Lahore, must be done through institutional frameworks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the loop for sustainability."

Further, Khan said that such meetings held between the prime ministers undermines a process whereby tensions can be eased, and raises questions and conflict of interest.

The remarks come a day after Modi made a brief surprise visit to Lahore where he met Sharif and visited his residence in Raiwind Palace.

It was the first time in over a decade that an Indian premier stepped on Pakistani soil and was seen by analysts as a step towards normalising ties between the two neighbours who have fought three wars.