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| Leaders of India and Pakistan Hold Rare Meeting | Leaders of India and Pakistan Hold Rare Meeting |
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| NEW DELHI — Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, met on Tuesday with his new Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in a swiftly arranged bilateral meeting that caught many by surprise and offers some hope that the two countries may resume a tentative peace process after a year and a half of frosty silence. | NEW DELHI — Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, met on Tuesday with his new Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in a swiftly arranged bilateral meeting that caught many by surprise and offers some hope that the two countries may resume a tentative peace process after a year and a half of frosty silence. |
| Mr. Sharif was one of seven leaders invited to Mr. Modi’s swearing-in on Monday because Pakistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, but the ceremony was overshadowed by his interactions with Mr. Modi, a Hindu nationalist who has little track record in foreign policy and used hard-line oratory on Pakistan during the parliamentary campaign. | Mr. Sharif was one of seven leaders invited to Mr. Modi’s swearing-in on Monday because Pakistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, but the ceremony was overshadowed by his interactions with Mr. Modi, a Hindu nationalist who has little track record in foreign policy and used hard-line oratory on Pakistan during the parliamentary campaign. |
| But Pakistani officials have expressed optimism about the prospects for peace, noting that the last burst of progress came in the late 1990s, when Mr. Sharif held power concurrently with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the last prime minister from Mr. Modi’s party, Bharatiya Janata. | But Pakistani officials have expressed optimism about the prospects for peace, noting that the last burst of progress came in the late 1990s, when Mr. Sharif held power concurrently with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the last prime minister from Mr. Modi’s party, Bharatiya Janata. |
| “I intend taking up threads from where Vajpayee and I left off in 1999,” Mr. Sharif told a reporter from NDTV. Asked by a journalist what outcome he expected from his meeting with Mr. Modi, Mr. Sharif recited an Urdu couplet that translates as, “cling to the tree and hope, for spring is in sight.” | “I intend taking up threads from where Vajpayee and I left off in 1999,” Mr. Sharif told a reporter from NDTV. Asked by a journalist what outcome he expected from his meeting with Mr. Modi, Mr. Sharif recited an Urdu couplet that translates as, “cling to the tree and hope, for spring is in sight.” |
| It was the first visit to Delhi by a Pakistani leader since the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, which dealt a serious setback to the relationship between the two countries. Initially scheduled to last for 35 minutes, the meeting went on for nearly an hour. | |
| One possible achievement from the Pakistani side would be the extension of most-favored-nation status, which would allow Indian goods access to its markets, though Mr. Sharif is likely seeking a concession in return from Mr. Modi. | One possible achievement from the Pakistani side would be the extension of most-favored-nation status, which would allow Indian goods access to its markets, though Mr. Sharif is likely seeking a concession in return from Mr. Modi. |
| A major topic was the trials of suspects in the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, which killed 163 people, Indian television reported. India has long complained about postponements and delays of the trial. | A major topic was the trials of suspects in the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, which killed 163 people, Indian television reported. India has long complained about postponements and delays of the trial. |
| Both Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif risked displeasing hard-liners in their own countries by taking part, and Mr. Sharif delayed for almost three days before accepting the invitation. In India, though, Mr. Modi’s landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month has meant the criticism was muted. | Both Mr. Modi and Mr. Sharif risked displeasing hard-liners in their own countries by taking part, and Mr. Sharif delayed for almost three days before accepting the invitation. In India, though, Mr. Modi’s landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month has meant the criticism was muted. |
| One voice of dissent came from the B.J.P.'s closest ally, the Shiv Sena, which has steadfastly opposed high-level engagement with Pakistan. But its leader, Uddhav Thackeray, attended Mr. Modi’s swearing-in on Monday and issued a statement expressing support for the new leader. | One voice of dissent came from the B.J.P.'s closest ally, the Shiv Sena, which has steadfastly opposed high-level engagement with Pakistan. But its leader, Uddhav Thackeray, attended Mr. Modi’s swearing-in on Monday and issued a statement expressing support for the new leader. |
| “We trust the firm and decisive leadership of Narendra Modi and do not wish to put obstacles in his way at the very start of his term,” the statement said. He added, in a kind of warning, “if, despite this gesture, Pakistan doesn’t change, we expect Modi to take firm steps.” | “We trust the firm and decisive leadership of Narendra Modi and do not wish to put obstacles in his way at the very start of his term,” the statement said. He added, in a kind of warning, “if, despite this gesture, Pakistan doesn’t change, we expect Modi to take firm steps.” |
| Mr. Modi’s swift arrangement of a regional summit — which in the past have been typically disrupted by waves of controversy and dispute within India –— has been hailed by many as a diplomatic coup, but further steps toward dialogue may prove difficult. | Mr. Modi’s swift arrangement of a regional summit — which in the past have been typically disrupted by waves of controversy and dispute within India –— has been hailed by many as a diplomatic coup, but further steps toward dialogue may prove difficult. |
| Under the outgoing Congress-led government, both Karachi and New Delhi took steps to establish a formal trade relationship, but talks were derailed repeatedly over security issues, finally coming to a halt after cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir early last year, when an Indian soldier was beheaded. | Under the outgoing Congress-led government, both Karachi and New Delhi took steps to establish a formal trade relationship, but talks were derailed repeatedly over security issues, finally coming to a halt after cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir early last year, when an Indian soldier was beheaded. |
| In Pakistan, meanwhile, many remain wary of Mr. Modi, whose strong economic record has been shadowed by controversy over religious riots that broke out in his home state of Gujarat in 2002 when he was its chief minister. Mr. Modi was widely blamed for failing to prevent the religious riots that raged for days after a train car carrying Hindu pilgrims was set afire. More than 1,000 people died in the riots, most of them Muslims. | In Pakistan, meanwhile, many remain wary of Mr. Modi, whose strong economic record has been shadowed by controversy over religious riots that broke out in his home state of Gujarat in 2002 when he was its chief minister. Mr. Modi was widely blamed for failing to prevent the religious riots that raged for days after a train car carrying Hindu pilgrims was set afire. More than 1,000 people died in the riots, most of them Muslims. |
| Mr. Sharif and Mr. Modi seemed to interact cordially at Monday’s ceremony and the banquet that followed it. | Mr. Sharif and Mr. Modi seemed to interact cordially at Monday’s ceremony and the banquet that followed it. |
| Shortly after its end, Mr. Modi wrote on Twitter that, “in my conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he shared some very emotional things.” The Pakistani premier, he continued, “told me that he stays in Islamabad, but goes to meet his mother once in a week. This time, when he was eating with his mother, he saw visuals on TV of my mother offering me sweets.” | Shortly after its end, Mr. Modi wrote on Twitter that, “in my conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he shared some very emotional things.” The Pakistani premier, he continued, “told me that he stays in Islamabad, but goes to meet his mother once in a week. This time, when he was eating with his mother, he saw visuals on TV of my mother offering me sweets.” |
| He wrote, “the visuals touched both Nawaz Sharif ji and his mother. He told me that after seeing the visuals, his mother got very emotional.” | He wrote, “the visuals touched both Nawaz Sharif ji and his mother. He told me that after seeing the visuals, his mother got very emotional.” |