Twitter blows up on both sides of border as Modi makes surprise pit stop in Lahore

Modi announced on Twitter that he would “drop by” in Lahore on his way back to New Delhi from Afghanistan

The news of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Pakistan on Friday took everyone by surprise.

In a tweet that instantly sparked frenzy, Modi announced he will “drop by” in Lahore on his way back to New Delhi from Afghanistan.



“Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi,” the Indian premier said on Twitter.

Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

Modi also wished Nawaz on his birthday.

Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2015

Following this announcement, Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj appreciated the Indian premier's decision to stop by in Pakistan on his way to India, saying "That's like a statesman. These are the kind of relations we should have with our neighbours," she tweeted.

That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen. https://t.co/dM26am9tWf

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 25, 2015

Indian journalist Barkha Dutt also took to Twitter and termed Modi's visit as a "masterstroke" and further announced that Sajjan Jindal, who she claims set up a secret meeting between the two leaders in Nepal, was also present in Pakistan.

He confounds both his critics& supporters ( and certainly the media) Masterstroke move by @narendramodi to drop in to meet Sharif in Lahore

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 25, 2015

Guess who's in Lahore apart from @narendramodi -@sajjanjindal59! My turn to say I TOLD YOU SO about secret PM meet he set up in SAARC Nepal

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) December 25, 2015

Jindal confirmed the news, tweeting, "In Lahore to greet PM Navaz Sharif on his birthday."

In Lahore to greet PM Navaz Sharif on his birthday. pic.twitter.com/t97nvUIkN4

— Sajjan Jindal (@sajjanjindal) December 25, 2015

Very historic hotel in Lahore built in 1880 pic.twitter.com/Z4kfNwW5gH

— Sajjan Jindal (@sajjanjindal) December 25, 2015

Many took to Twitter to appreciate the meeting between the two countries:

#Modi's surprise visit possibly the first goodwill visit by an #Indian prime minister to #Pakistan in almost 12 years.

— Sophia Saifi (@SophiaSaifi) December 25, 2015

Every major leap in human thought has erupted from the audacity of hope ! It's brave of PM Modi to pay a visit to Nawaz. Sharif !

— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) December 25, 2015

Let it all begin now pls-- Cricket, Ghulam Ali concert, sports teams, people to people contact..aman ki aasha! https://t.co/LF4bnl2xmW

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) December 25, 2015

Interesting move. Are they bursting crackers in Pakistan then?

— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) December 25, 2015

Haath mey haath, naye jazbaath pic.twitter.com/X6w7KXPS5S

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) December 25, 2015

Now this is called being one step ahead of the media and the hawks. @PMOIndia in Lahore to meet Nawaz on Xmas Day!

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) December 25, 2015

#NawazSharif receiving PM #Vajpayee , #WagahBorder ,1999.
16 years later, #Modi visits Pakistan today. #WelcomeModi pic.twitter.com/99ESiteS25

— Ayesha (@Ayeshaspeaksnow) December 25, 2015

@narendramodi very right dissison best wishes for both countries #NawazSharif

— AJAY SHEKHAR (@ajayspjain2007) December 25, 2015

Setting a major breakthrough as a benchmark for PM Modi's Lahore visit is ridiculous. Process itself is the breakthrough. Worth celebrating.

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) December 25, 2015

Haath mey haath, naye jazbaath pic.twitter.com/X6w7KXPS5S

— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) December 25, 2015

Usual suspects are upset because PM #Modi doesn't follow their cookie cutter templates and has broken new grounds with #InnovativeDiplomacy!

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 25, 2015

I hope #Modi and #NawazSharif meeting turns out good and beneficial for both countries esp Pakistan.

— Mariam Imran - Economist, Communications, PR (@iammariamimran) December 25, 2015

PM @narendramodi's #Lahore diplomacy is perhaps India's biggest international diplomatic coup to usher both nations into an era of #peace.

— Bhaiyyuji Maharaj (@bhaiyujimaharaj) December 25, 2015

#iPM Modi visiting Pakistan on his way back from Kabul to Dehli, quite surprised but positive diplomacy @pmln_org

— Mahpara Safdar (@mahparasafdar) December 25, 2015

PM Modi in Lahore is genius. Fast-tracks "visit" dynamic by 9 months, re-seizes the baton of initiative & strengthens PM Sharif's approach.

— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) December 25, 2015

However, a few were not so optimistic:

Beware PM @narendramodi! #Kargil happened after #Vajpayee went to #Lahore by bus & met #NawazSharif on 19-2-1999 https://t.co/feuiwc4GZN

— Kumar Shakti Shekhar (@ShaktiShekhar) December 25, 2015

Look at the bigger picture PM #Modi does dadagiri lands in Pakistan without informing them lol #Lahore

— Pramod Naidu (@Naidu_Pramod) December 25, 2015

Indo-Pak relations have been plagued by knee-jerk reactions & a lack of consistency. Looking towards two PMs to correct this this time.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 25, 2015

Indian PM pays surprise visit to Lhr but Indian govt submits another complaint ag Pak in UN! Double games or serious Indian rethink?

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 25, 2015

Acc to journo & India watcher, Mariana Babar, Modi went to Kabul from Moscow so has come to Lhr with a msg from Moscow abt Afghanistan.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 25, 2015

#ModiInsultsPakistan---Modi is using Pakistan as a transit camp. #ShameOnNawazGovt @FarrukhHabibISF

— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram2004) December 25, 2015

Modi visitin Pak enroute back frm Afgh'n for 2 hours at airport is an insult.he thinks he can go n meet karzai n just pat the poodle Nawaz

— Dr. Azhar Aslam (@azharaslam) December 25, 2015

Nearly 16 years after Bill Clinton made a 5 hour airport stopover in Pakistan, Narendra Modi does his airport stopover there.
Poor Pakistan.

— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) December 25, 2015

Others took a lighter view of the whole situation:

https://twitter.com/nesoron/status/680313548686405632

https://twitter.com/iMehrabKhan/status/680329275757715456

Modi invites Obama to be Chief Guest on Republic Day v/Twitter. Modi announces impromptu Lahore stopover v/ Twitter. Welcome to #Tweeplomacy

— Ashok Lalla (@ashoklalla) December 25, 2015

Because, you know, Indian PMs just drop by Pakistan for a quick visit all the time. https://t.co/wMlEB5yZVu

— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) December 25, 2015

Clever Modi ploy to ruin Nawaz Sharif's birthday with vegetarian meal. Bonus: Ruin Xmas for journos by making them work. #BirthdayDiplomacy

— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) December 25, 2015

https://twitter.com/ggiittiikkaa/status/680311058444218368

https://twitter.com/Mocksterr/status/680318546862157824

Narendra Modi should bring some Fast Bowlers from Pakistan.#ModiInPak

— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) December 25, 2015