Modi's visit: Is Sajjan Jindal behind the 'birthday diplomacy'?
Jindal was also in Lahore with his wife for the occasion of Nawaz Sharif birthday
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi s surprise visit to Lahore on Friday to ‘wish Nawaz Sharif on his birthday’, has brought industrialist Sajjan Jindal into limelight, who was in the Pakistan on the same day and tweeted his picture with wife saying he is in Lahore for PM Nawaz’s birthday, reported Dunya News.
In Lahore to greet PM Navaz Sharif on his birthday. pic.twitter.com/t97nvUIkN4
— Sajjan Jindal (@sajjanjindal59) December 25, 2015
According to the details, it is not the first time Sajjan Jindal has been associated with Nawaz Sharif, nor is it the first time his name appeared as the facilitator of a meeting between Modi and Sharif. Sajjan Jindal has been a controversial figure in Pakistan. When Nawaz Sharif visited Delhi last May to attend Modi s inauguration, he accepted an invite from Sajjan Jindal and visited his house with his son.
An Indian journalist Barka Dutt claims in her book The Unquiet land that last November Modi and Nawaz Sharif met for an hour in Kathmandu during the Saarc summit. The alleged meeting, which was held secretly, lasted for an hour. Both the leaders agreed to keep talking informally. According to Barka Dutt, the meeting was held in Sajjan Jindal s hotel room. So, Sajjan Jindal has been acting as an informal messenger between the two leaders. Jindals are second largest steel manufacturers in India and are interested in procuring high quality but cheap iron ore from Afghanistan.
Also read: Narendra Modi to drop by Lahore to meet Nawaz Sharif
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday will pay a visit to Pakistan and hold a meeting with counterpart, Nawaz Sharif.
Modi will land at Allama Iqbal International Airport where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will welcome him on a short visit. PM Nawaz has reached the Lahore airport while Federal Minister Ishaq Dar among others are accompanying the premier.
In a message posted on social media, Modi stated that he is looking forward to a meeting with Nawaz Sharif today in the afternoon. Modi was on a one-day visit to Afghanistan where he inaugurated the Parliament building which was built with help of India.
The Indian PM has also addressed the Afghanistan lawmakers during his visit.
Modi landed in Kabul after his visit to Russia. Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi had signed defence deal among other pacts.
Earlier, Modi had wished Nawaz Sharif on his birthday today.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has hailed Prime Minister’s move. In a tweet, she stated that such should be the terms with neighbours. On the other hand, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson said that Modi’s visit was not scheduled but has come as a surprize.
Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal is also present in Lahore today. It should be mentioned here that Indian journalist Barkha Dutt had claimed in her latest book that Jindal organised a secret meeting between Modi and Nawaz when both the leaders were in Nepal to attend the Saarc 2014.
