Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprang a massive surprise today when he tweeted that he would "drop by" Lahore on his way back to Delhi and meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who turned 66 today.
Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday.
β Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015
Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.
β Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015
According to reports, Modi's decision was a "spontaneous" one taken this morning.
And, Twitter spontaneously reacted too, with many praising the Prime Minister for his political diplomacy.
Brilliant masterstroke by @narendramodi : this is real-politik diplomacy! Wonderful...now will wait for the so-called experts to criticise.
β SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) December 25, 2015
That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen. https://t.co/dM26am9tWf
β Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) 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
β barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 25, 2015
PM Manmohan Singh dreamt of it, PM @narendramodi achieves it (albeit in reverse) - breakfast in Kabul, lunch in Lahore, dinner in Delhi.
β Rezaul Hasan Laskar (@Rezhasan) December 25, 2015
Many in Pakistan also celebrated the news:
This is how things should be between Pakistan & India: visit one another whenever needed, and not get entangled in jingoistic negativity.
β 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
β Hina R Khar (@HinaRKhar) December 25, 2015
It's the first time an Indian prime minister has visited Pakistan in almost 12 years.
The last Indian premier to visit Pakistan was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he attended a South Asian summit in 2004 and held talks with then-President Pervez Musharraf.
But, it was not just bouquets for Modi.
Now waiting for the statement from J&K Govt claiming that Mufti Syed was the one who forced PM Modi to visit Lahore today.
β Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 25, 2015
Bhakts keep saying "go to Pakistan". That's why.
β kaveri (@ikaveri) December 25, 2015
And, since Twitter never forgets anything, #BiryaniWithNawaz started trending on Twitter. This was dig at Modi's comments in 2013 while he was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a rally in Trichy two years ago, Modi had said, "How is it that Pakistani soldiers come to our soil, behead our soldiers and take back their heads. What is the reason that Pakistan soldiers kill our jawans on the border and the government in Delhi cites protocol to feed the Pakistani Prime Minister biryani."
Narendra Modi had Walked during National Anthem. So being a True Sanghi, he is punishing himself by going to Pakistan immediately
β Joy (@Joydas) December 25, 2015
To have #BiryaniWithNawaz ? https://t.co/hGLn5gB10d
β AapKaMateen (@muntaziraapka) December 25, 2015
Something good out of PM's #BiryaniWithNawaz idea, Sanghis tweeting #AmanKiAsha kinda tweets.! π
β ΰ€°ΰ€€ΰ₯ΰ€¨ΰ€ͺΰ₯ΰ€°ΰ€Ώΰ€―ΰ€Ύ. (@jimmy9_girl) December 25, 2015
Modi in Pakistan to Be honoured by Pakistan Tourism for promotion of Pakistan travel in India #BiryaniWithNawaz
β Vinay Dokania (@vinaydokania) December 25, 2015
Social media didn't miss the opportunity to crack jokes in trying to figure how the meeting was arranged.
A FAKING NEWS EXCLUSIVE: How the Lahore meeting was fixed between Modi and Sharif pic.twitter.com/YB6HteJmuD
β Faking News (@fakingnews) December 25, 2015
The Nation wants to know
Who sold the Pakistan going Ticket to Modi
β Sachin (@SmSRocKS_) December 25, 2015
Pilot "sir chale India ab to"
NaMo "ek bar Pakistan aur utaar le"
P " but wo to dushman hai"
N "dushman hoga tera, meri toh bucket list hai"
β Rofl Gandhi-Trumpian (@RoflGandhi_) December 25, 2015
Nawaz Sharif is now hurriedly changing out of his pyjamas and cleaning his house.
β Damsel in This Dress (@secondofhername) December 25, 2015
Has anyone informed Arnab Goswami about this #Lahore visit ??
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