Any interaction between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi has always been a source of immense interest in the international media, mainly due to the frosty relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The brief stopover by the Indian PM in Lahore at his desire to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was welcomed by leading international print media
British daily The Guardian said that the visit had raised hopes that stop-and-start negotiations between the nuclear-armed neighbours might finally make progress.
“The Lahore visit comes after India and Pakistan resumed high-level contact with a brief conversation between Sharif and Modi at climate change talks in Paris late last month, part of efforts to restart a peace dialogue,” it added.
The Khaleej Times said both the prime ministers have shown their eagerness to cement a new era in their checkered relationship after their interaction in Ufa and Paris.
“They went a step further when their national security advisers and foreign secretaries met in Bangkok to lay the ground for Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad earlier this month for the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan.”
“This indicates that there is a desire on both sides of the divide to look to the future with a new sense of purpose,” it said.
The New York Times in its issue said that Modi’s course towards Pakistan has shifted to engagement from the confrontation.
Appreciating Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it said for his part, PM Sharif has been an advocate of better ties with India.
The Wall Street Journal analyzed the situation by saying that the event was likely to add momentum to a reconciliation process between the neighbours.
“Better relations between neighbors India and Pakistan will benefit the people of the entire region,” the daily quoted State Department spokesman John Kirby as saying.