Prime Minister Narendra Modi took everyone by surprise on Friday morning when he tweeted that he was going to drop by Lahore and meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his way back to India from Afghanistan, after wishing the latter on his birthday. This would be the first time an Indian PM is visiting Pakistan in more than a decade.
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, 2015The meeting was scheduled at the Lahore airport where the Pakistani PM would meet his Indian counterpart over a cup of tea for a couple of hours, but the Indian PM boarded a helicopter to head to the Pakistani PM's residence.
This has been both hailed as a great diplomatic move and derided as “theatre”, but the overall reaction to this has been encouraging. But there was the dose of politicisation and humour over the PM’s sudden visit to Pakistan.
First, there was the immediate politicking, with Omar Abdullah mocking the PDP, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj encouraging the PM and the Congress, AAP and Shiv Sena going after the BJP, although for different reasons.
Now waiting for the statement from J&K Govt claiming that Mufti Syed was the one who forced PM Modi to visit Lahore today.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 25, 2015
That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen. https://t.co/dM26am9tWf
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 25, 2015If PM @narendramodi bring back #DawoodIbrahim, then we will call it successful visit: Shiv Sena
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) December 25, 2015
PM's misadventure to Lahore is worst manifestation of Spectecalisation of Diplomacy Last time Vajpayee went to Lahore Kargil!this time what?
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) 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
There was the general overall praise from journalists and observers
This is wonderful @narendramodi turn. Vajpayee's Pak policy still wisest & good to pick up that thread. Best b'day gift to Vajpayee as well
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) December 25, 2015
He confounds both his critics& supporters ( and certainly the media) Masterstroke move by @narendramodi to drop in to meet Sharif in Lahore
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 25, 2015Here are some voices from the other side,
Welcome, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lahore... This unexpected visit is a very positive step towards breaking the icy status quo
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) December 25, 2015
Finally an Indian PM landing in Pakistan. Instead of being hostage to the past let's look forward to saner, better relations in the future
— Hina R Khar (@HinaRKhar) December 25, 2015
PM Modi in Lahore is genius. Fast-tracks "visit" dynamic by 9 months, re-seizes the baton of initiative & strengthens PM Sharif's approach.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) December 25, 2015
Modi playing brilliant to give impression as if India was sincerely trying to improve relations. And sharif dancing stupidly on Modi tune
— Sami Abraham (@samiabrahim) December 25, 2015And then there were the hilarious jokes and happy observations,
Narendra Modi had Walked during National Anthem. So being a True Sanghi, he is punishing himself by going to Pakistan immediately
— Joy (@Joydas) December 25, 2015PM Manmohan Singh dreamt of it, PM @narendramodi achieves it (albeit in reverse) - breakfast in Kabul, lunch in Lahore, dinner in Delhi.
— Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) December 25, 2015
Modi's visit coincides with the birthdays of Jinnah, Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif. And above all its Christmas. Quite a bit of symbolism.
— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) December 25, 2015
The unannounced pile-on is the sole foreign policy innovation of this government pic.twitter.com/STnt86Pxe8
— IndiaExplained (@IndiaExplained) December 25, 2015