Nawaz Sharif and Modi seen in New Delhi during Modi inauguration as PM. PHOTO: REUTERS
After sweeping to a landslide election victory last month, Hindu nationalist Modi invited Sharif to his inauguration in a surprise move seen as a significant olive branch to India's Muslim neighbour.
"Nawaz Sharif ... has sent a wonderful white sari for my mother," Modi tweeted from his personal account. "I am really grateful to him & will send it to my mother very soon," he added.
Modi, who gave Sharif a shawl for his mother at their meeting in New Delhi, called for Pakistan to crack down on terror groups while signalling his openness to peace talks.
Twitter users Thursday welcomed the "sari" diplomacy between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals, who have fought three wars since independence, but one user joked that Sharif had perhaps misheard Modi.
"Oh, I thought we had asked him for a sorry," wrote Ramesh Srivats, a marketing professional.
Bilateral ties broke down after attacks by Pakistani gunmen on India's commercial hub Mumbai in 2008, in which 166 people were killed.
Modi, expected to be a hawk in office, has surprised some commentators by reaching out to Pakistan and regional rival China.
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@someone : Pakistan constitution says it Islamic Republic of Pakistan .Indian says secular India .Will India change its constitution now to accommodate Hindu BJP?
@ali: Hmm let me know if PML-N, PPP, PTI, PML-Q have declared themselves as secular parties. We'll talk then about BJP being a Hindu party.
@Singh : whatever religion or no-religion i have , it does not make me feel proud for anything .so i dont know why someone is proud of being Hindu .and writing Modi as Hindu nationalist is in context of India and not in comparision of Pakistan .I did not know Indians are comparing everything with Pakistan
@ali: So according to you Nawaz Sharif (supporter of terrorist organization in Pak Punjab) is a secular leader?
@Mohammad: Pakistan will always belive in conspiracy theroies. American spying ageincies intercepted messsage of these terrorist.
Meanwhile in the rest of the world he is known as what he truely is - All rise for The Butcher of Gujrat.
@shailesh karanjkar: "And what is wrong if we say that we are Hindu ?? " Exactly what is wrong if we say that you are a hindu or mr. moodi is a hindu?? You can't attribute our minister as muslim because its understood that our ministers are mostly muslims. We never say anyone from gandhi family a hindu nationalist but when anyone attributes moodi as hindu nationalist than there is a reason and u know it very well..
There were Nationalist Muslims like Maulana Azad who believed in united India. And there were Muslim Nationalists too who dreamt of a Muslim State. Similarly, one can either be a Nationalist Hindu or a Hindu Nationalist. Former, though a Hindu, believes in Indian Nation; the latter, though an Indian, has visions of Hindu Nation. Is Modi of RSS such a visionary?
Dear Mr Modi, what was the need to even invite Mr Nawaz Sharif to India ?
You have let down the people of India by inviting him
Uhoh now Nawaz to return the appreciation would let India build another two three hundred dams and barrages over Pakistani rivers besides sending more terrorists to Balochistan. Nawaz Modi Bhai Bhai - Bhag Pakistan Teri Shamat Ai
@shailesh karanjkar: True he is Prime Minister and before that he was the chief minister Gujarat and led the massacre of thousands of children, women and men belonging to minority
Let mothers start a new era of friendship, very good move by both PMs.. Both country people want PEACE AND LOVE....
@jun: Are you Muslim first or Pakistani? In USA I never come across a person who is Pakistani first then Muslim. You might be first one I should know.
@shailesh karanjkar: I totally agree with the gentleman, why write that each time you mention Mr. Modi, it is counter intuitive, each time India is mentioned you don't have to write that the arch nuclear rivals have fought 3 wars. Come on editors stop this repetitive nonsense. Some how Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif who both have been elected by a large majority have to chart a new course where these countries develop for the good of it's poor masses and not be poised for another war. The nay sayers on both sides do not want it to happen. Somehow Pakistan and India have to transcend all that. There is opportunity for both to benefit from a good neighborly relationship. There examples of so many regional alliances across the globe, we have to strive for that. The issues will be better resolved if there is less suspicion of each others position. In my opinion Mr. Modi will be a good leader who will take steps to better relationship with Pakistan,India is a big country with lots of issues he has to change the old mindset there will be no room for creating problems,which impede progress, the young population of India elected him to be a good leader.Mr. Sharif is a willing partner, hopefully we will see good things in the next 5 years.
@shailesh karanjkar: Modi can hardly be termed 'secular.' Just because you conclude that 'Hindus are most secular' doesnt make them secular!
@shailesh karanjkar: Pakistan has never elected any islamic party to power, we have islamic parties like JI, JUI but they were never able to win even 10% votes, unlike india where the hindu party is in power twice in the last few elections. If maulana fazl-ur-Rehman is to be elected pakistan pm i am sure media will write him as an islamic pm
@shailesh karanjkar
Not everyone thinks like the writers at express tribune, being a Pakistani myself i don't believe in acknowledging someone by their religion, nor i believe that this current generation in both countries should keep hatred because of foolish decisions taken by leaders at that time, what i believe is that its time to bury the hatchet and begin a new chapter and i hope some day these two countries will get together like canada and america, and work on mutual cooperation to create a more sustainable and secure future for our upcoming generation, sure both the countries suffer from religious extremism, of which i am very against, but its you and i who can change the past and create history, if uk and france can get together, if japan and usa can get together, that why cant we ? With love from the other side of the border
I think it is very wrong of you to refer to Mr Modi as the Hindu Nationalist because he is the Prime Minister öf India and referred to as such.
Modi is a good guy ! Besides all the dommers and gloomers in Pak, I think this guy means business, is a straight forward, warm and a decisive leader !
It is not "Sari" diplomacy, it is "Mother" diplomacy. I wish some good come out of it for the unfortunate poor of the Sub-Continent.
Love affair between Nawaz Sharif and Modi blossoming. Allah khair karay.
@shailesh karanjkar: It's not about pride or shame. The prefix 'Hindu Nationalist' only shows the political views Mr. Modi holds. Religious parties in Pakistan are referred to 'Islamist Parties' in India which equally makes sense and has nothing offensive.
Pakistani Gunmen????? ..... Sorry Indian Friends .... but it was your own government propaganda .... regarding Mumbai attacks... but still you people live in denial mode .... so nothing more can happen....
@ shailesh karanjkar How about former RSS, ardent, worker?
Call a spade, spade....he is like that. His has blood on his hands, dear. He and my fellow indians should have thought about it before electing him. Cheer!
Modi said "Thanks" and this becomes a national news. The breaking news tomorrow would be Sharif said "You are Welcome"
Hindu could be anybody living in Hindustan. Don't be offended.
why you are proud of being Hindu @Shailesh Karanjkar .some sort of achievement .You being Hindu nationalist is defending another Hindu nationalist Modi
Lol "sari diplomacy" what a term.
@shailesh karanjkar: Continued.... Modi is Hindu merely due to the birth record of Gujrat City council, however in reality, he is the Iconic figure on the subject of secularism, religious harmony, freedom of speech and above all mutual coexistence in Indian society. I recommend him to be conferred with Nobel Peace Prize and I am sure, he shall be granted Nobel Peace Prize unopposed due to his Unblemished character as Chief Minister of Indian State of Gujrat in the field of Human rights and racial tolerance.
bal bla bla bla ..... Mr Karanjkar Happy Now ??????Well its a good beginning for both leaders and let us hope it results into normalising of relations between the two countries in the near future. However Pakistan needs to address India's concerns on terrorism which is a must for before talks take place.
Mr Modi is not Hindu Nationalist, He is Prime Minister of India. Why you always want to add "Hindu" ? though we are proud to be Hindu. I can conclude that Hindus are the most secular than anybody else as we do not term any Pakistani Ministers as "Muslims". They are ministers. And what is wrong if we say that we are Hindu ??