Modi calls Nawaz, extends wishes for Ramazan

Published June 16, 2015
According to a statement issued by PM Office, Indian premier called Nawaz and both leaders spoke for five minutes on  issues of bilateral importance. -AP/File
According to a statement issued by PM Office, Indian premier called Nawaz and both leaders spoke for five minutes on issues of bilateral importance. -AP/File

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday and extended greetings on the arrival of Ramazan.

According to a statement issued by PM Office, Indian premier called Nawaz and both the leaders spoke for five minutes on different issues of bilateral importance.

Modi also called Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Modi also announced to "release detained Pakistani fishermen on this pious occasion".

"The fishermen released will be able to be with their families to observe this blessed month (Ramazan)," said Modi on his Twitter account.

Modi told Nawaz that he wants to establish cordial relations with Pakistan.

Nawaz replied saying that both the countries should try to resolve their grievances and work to build a peaceful environment so that people on both sides of the border remember their leadership in good words.

“Pakistan and India should live peacefully – like good neighbours. Our internal differences should not be allowed to become a hurdle in this,” stressed Nawaz.

Nawaz Sharif later announced that Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan would also be released forthwith as a gesture of goodwill.

The talk between the two premiers is the first after a series of inflammatory remarks from both sides had seemingly soured the already fragile relationship between the two states.

Over the past two weeks senior politicians and cabinet members from India and Pakistan have issued fiery statements, threatening military attacks and blaming the other for supporting terrorism in insurgency-hit areas in Pakistan and India.

Take a look: Pakistan decries India's admission of involvement in cross-border terrorism.

Bilateral ties went into a freeze after Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit held meetings with the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders last year which annoyed the Indian foreign ministry. Since then, the two sides have taken tentative steps towards a possible resumption in dialogue, with Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar visiting Islamabad for talks with his Pakistani counterpart in March this year.

However, there has been little sign of progress in ties.

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