Summary Pakistani PM waved at the Indian PM who smiled and waved back.
Lahore (Web Desk) – As both nations look forward to any signs which might hint towards the coming relations between Pakistan and India, Pakistan’s Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and Indian PM Narendra Modi waved at each other on Tuesday before their address at the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping session. Both leaders are in New York to attend the 70th UN General Assembly session.
The gestural greeting occurred at the UN peacekeeping summit hosted by US President Barack Obama. Modi s entrance into the hall was followed by Sharif’s. The Pakistani PM waved at the Indian PM who smiled and waved back. After a pause, Modi then waved again to which Sharif responded with a wave and a smile.
It was another rare instance as the leaders of both countries opted for a stay in the same hotel, the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in New York, during their visit.
Relations between the two countries, however, remain strained due to a number of recent issues. As of before, Kashmir remains a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, as scheduled National Security Advisor (NSA) level talks between the two men broke down recently in August as Modi’s government decried Pakistani leaders meeting with the Kashimiri leaders of the Hurriyat Conference.
Pakistan on the other hand fumed over the recent skirmishes at the border. PM Sharif’s government also promised to raise the issue of Indian occupation of Kashmir on an international level during the UN session. PM Nawaz Sharif has also urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to resolve the Kashmir issue while India has called Kashmir as a bilateral issue and opposed any international involvement.
Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US, Maliha Lodhi stated that during his visit, the PM will also address the issue of a wall built at the Line of Control (LOC) by the Indians which is against the international law.
Tensions have remained high with recent frequent episodes of unprovoked firing by the Indian Border Forces which led to the deaths of a number of Pakistanis. Pakistan answered back with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Shareef warning the Indian government that Pakistan was more than capable of responding with a befitting reply.
Modi and Sharif last met in Ufa, Russia in July during BRICS and SCO summit.
