New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif via telephone and announced his decision to set free Pakistani fishermen. Modi also extended his best wishes for Ramzan, which starts on June 18.
In the five-minute call, Modi told Sharif that he wanted good relations with Pakistan.
“He reiterated to Prime Minister Sharif his message of peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries,” said the PMO release.
“Also conveyed to PM Sharif our decision to release detained Pakistani fishermen on this pious occasion,” Modi later tweeted about his conversation with Sharif.
“The fishermen released will be able to be with their families to observe this blessed month,” he said in another tweet. .
The telephonic conversation appears to be the first sign of thaw between the neighbouring counties.
Pakistan and India have been involved in a war of words recently with leaders from both sides exchanging sharp comments after Modi’s critical remarks about Pakistan during his Dhaka visit and in the wake of India’s military action in Myanmar.
According to the release, Modi dialled Pakistan and Bangladesh premiers, Nawaz Sharif and Sheikh Hasina, and Afghan President Ashran Ghani and conveyed to them good wishes for the holy month.Â
In his conversation with Hasina, Modi thanked her for his “successful visit” to Bangladesh and the “extraordinary hospitality, friendship and goodwill that he received from the people and government of the country.
He expressed confidence that the visit has set the stage for a new era in bilateral cooperation and regional partnership between the two countries.
The Prime Minister assured President Ghani of India’s “steadfast commitment” to support Afghanistan in its efforts to build a peaceful, stable, secure and prosperous nation.
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