Indian PM Modi makes surprise visit to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi started talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on Friday shortly after he arrived in Lahore on an unscheduled visit, officials said.

Both leaders took a helicopter to proceed to the residence of Sharif near Lahore, the capital of Punjab province after the brief official reception at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Modi did not talk to the media at the airport.

Diplomatic sources said that the Indian prime minister is accompanied by a 120-member delegation which was with him during his visit to Afghanistan earlier in the morning.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Friday on a brief and unscheduled visit for talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Modi's visit marked the first trip of an Indian prime minister to Pakistan in 12 years.

Modi, who inaugurated a new parliament complex built with Indian help in Kabul, spoke to Sharif earlier on Friday to wish him on his 66th birthday.

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

Pakistani sources said that both prime ministers are scheduled to have a half-an-hour meeting to discuss important issues of the relationship.

The meeting is important as both countries are scheduled to resume an official dialogue next month after a break of nearly eight years. The "Composite Dialogue" will restart after the 2008 Mumbai attacks that were blamed on "Lashkar-e-Taiba" group.

Officials said that several cabinet ministers from both countries are taking part in the talks.

Modi made a surprise announcement earlier to visit Pakistan for a meeting with Sharif on his way back to New Delhi from Kabul.

The Indian prime minister's visit came days after the two countries decided to resume"comprehensive dialogue"process that was suspended after the 2008 attacks in the Indian commercial center of Mumbai..

The Indian prime minister's visit was widely welcomed in Pakistan and all TV channels are holding special debates on the development

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said Pakistan and India have no other option but to resolve problems through dialogue.

"I welcome the Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan as I have advocated that Pakistan and India must solve their disputes through talks," Kasuri said. He also called for an end to rhetoric as this posture does not work.

Both leaders had a brief handshake and chat on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Change summit on Nov. 30 that proved to be an ice-breaking interaction.

Modi is also scheduled to visit Pakistan next year to attend a regional summit.