Nawaz sends mangoes for Modi

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sent a box of mangoes to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a bid to defuse escalating border tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, The Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday.

"Mangoes were delivered to Modi through official channels even as Pakistan was accusing us of flying a drone into its airspace,'' the daily quoted an Indian official as saying on condition of anonymity.

The move comes amid renewed tensions along the Line of Control in Kashmir and the working boundary in Sialkot, as well as intrusion into Pakistani territory by an Indian 'spy' drone. Pakistan and India have constantly exchanged gunfire in the last week. Four people have been killed by the firing of Indian border security forces on civilian populations on the Pakistani side in recent days. Five more have been left injured by the unprovoked attacks.

Even as Premier Nawaz sent Modi mangoes, Pakistani and Indian security forces stationed along the Wagah Border broke tradition this year by not exchanging sweets on Eidul Fitr.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.