India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise trip to Pakistan to meet with counterpart Nawaz Sharif Friday.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed Modi would arrive in the eastern city of Lahore late on Friday for an unscheduled visit with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
State TV footage showed the Indian Air Force jumbo jet landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, while Sharif — who celebrated his birthday the same day — was flown in by helicopter, AFP reported.
Sharif received Modi on the tarmac where both leaders wore their national dresses and made their way to Sharif’s helicopter, to be flown to the Pakistani prime minister’s residence just south of the city, state media said.
“Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday,” Modi said in another tweet.
Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan since Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to the country in 2004, the Times of India reported.
The visit comes more than two weeks after Modi and Sharif had an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate change talks, AP reported.