New Delhi (NVI) Amidst the deep chill in India-Pakistan relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a personal letter to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, expressing condolences over the death of his mother and recalling his meeting with her in 2015.
Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away on November 22 and Modi sent the letter, through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, on November 27 to Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz for passing the message on to her father who is living in virtual exile in London.
The letter was leaked, possibly, by Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) along with the covering letter of Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad Gaurav Ahluwalia, dated December 11.
“Dear Mian Sahib, I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of your mother Begum Shamim Akhtar on November 22 in London. My heartfelt condolences are with you in this hour of intense grief,” Modi wrote in the condolence letter.
Recalling his interaction with her during his brief visit to Lahore in December 2015, the Indian Prime Minister wrote, “Her simplicity and warmth was indeed very touching.”
Modi had paid a surprise visit to Lahore on December 25, 2015 on the occasion of birthday of Sharif, then Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Indian Prime Minister, who had a stopover of few hours in Lahore on his return from Afghanistan visit, also attended the wedding ceremony of Sharif’s kin in Raiwind.
Sharif received Modi at Lahore airport and from there they flew to Raiwind together in a helicopter.
This was the first time an Indian Prime Minister visited Pakistan in more than a decade but first ever unscheduled visit.
Sharif, a three-time Prime Minister, was compelled to resign two years later because of some corruption cases, widely believed to have been falsely foisted on him by the Army. He has been living in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to go abroad for treatment of heart disease and immune system disorder.
