PM in hot water over 'secret' meeting with Indian tycoon

[Syed1.]

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif found himself caught in another storm on Thursday, this time over a furtive huddle with an Indian steel magnate which is being labelled as back-channel diplomacy.


An Indian delegation led by Sajjan Jindal – a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – met Premier Nawaz at his private residence in Murree on Wednesday, away from the media glare.

Although nothing has officially been shared about the context of this meeting, it is believed it was part of back-channel diplomacy to arrange a meeting between the Pakistani and Indian prime ministers on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held in June in Astana, Kazakhstan. Pakistan and India are set to become full members of the SCO in the upcoming conference.

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It is also being claimed that the Indian delegation delivered some message from Modi to Nawaz.

Although the government and ruling party initially kept mum about the meeting, speculation after private news media broke the story prompted the prime minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, to confirm the development on her Twitter account.

“Mr Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing ‘secret’ about the meeting and [it] should not be blown out of proportion,” she tweeted.

Earlier on Thursday, the Foreign Office spokesman claimed his office was unaware about any such meeting. This provided the belligerent opposition more ammunition to castigate the prime minister on motives behind the secret meeting.

A common friend of Nawaz and Modi, Jindal is thought to be an interlocutor or, at times, a facilitator in some meetings between the two heads of government during the past three years. One such meeting was on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in Nepal which both sides did not officially confirmed. Jindal is also said to be the man behind Modi’s surprise private visit to Lahore two years ago during which he attended the wedding of Nawaz’s granddaughter.

Some private TV channels said Jindal and his delegation arrived in Islamabad in a special plane, spent some hours in Pakistan, had a lunch meeting with Nawaz and went back to India. Apart from Jindal, the delegation which met the prime minister in Murree comprised Virender Singh and Bubbar Saket Singal.

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“Given that this is yet another meeting held at a high level without the knowledge of the FO, it is high time that the people of Pakistan are taken into confidence about what transpires in such meetings,” said Senator Sherry Rehman.

Analysts are not only casting aspersions on the motives of the meeting, but its timing as well given that it took place when both are entangled in multiple bilateral issues. The most recent of these was India’s reaction to the death sentence of Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav.

Prime Minister Nawaz usually spends his weekend in Murree or Lahore. It was unusual for him to be in Murree on a working day in the middle of week.

Sherry Rehman, in an adjournment motion she submitted in Senate, further said: “It is widely reported that the prime minister of Pakistan has had an unofficial meeting with Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, who is on some diplomatic mission for Narendra Modi. The matter is of urgent public importance and the House may adjourn other business to discuss vital issues.”

An even stronger reaction came from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. “We are concerned over the visit. Nawaz has business relations with Indians. It is not a mere coincidence that Newsgate scandal report and arrival of Jindal were timed so close,” said PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry.

PTI leader and opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed was quick to submit a resolution in provincial legislature dominated by ruling PML-N. In his resolution, he said the Indian delegation flew to Pakistan to rescue the beleaguered Prime Minister. He demanded that the house and masses be apprised on motives behind this visit.

A businessman tycoon in India, Jindal is hailed as an influential personality in power corridors as well. Some analysts see his visit as harbinger for melting of ice in bilateral relations that had been going through a new low over the past more than two years. However, many people on both sides cast doubt on any tangible improvement in bilateral ties any time soon.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1395521/pm-hot-water-secret-meeting-indian-tycoon/

 

[Thorough Pro]

Modi licking his own spit

 

[Realistic Change]

The narrative of the sitting govt., PLMN can be shredded to pieces re this news.

1. Why this timing was chosen when death sentence of Kulbhushan has already been put on simmer by Sartaj Aziz (officially) and even Shahbaz Sharif (in private meetings)?

2. Dawn leaks news has not been released and it was Indian narrative in that news, so how much could it be coincidence that most trusted aide of Modi is in town for the second time in 4 years, first one was wedding of Mehrunissa and then other just around the corner of release date of Dawn Leaks report?

3. Why was FO unaware if the high profile business partner of PM visiting, if FO was unaware who was responsible for security arrangements of a guest from a country whose visa issuance is on radar of armed forces as wells how come violation of visa specifications took place or was it issued for Murree as well?

4. If it was to make headway for Modi and Nawaz meeting, are personal relations between Modi and Nawaz such that they need mediation - last time we checked Modi and Nawaz are friends themselves and hold no animosity towards each other so why mediation of common friend was required?

5. Why was meeting kept secret, and why not held in Islamabad PM house or PM House in Raiwind, why an obscure place where the chance was taken that if no one catches it no need to disclose, hence it was tried to be kept under the wraps until ARY spilled the beans?

6. Who is Maryam Nawaz Sharif to announce visits, when PM house had been embroiled in controversy of national security breach relating to India, if there was nothing to hide then why not someone from PM office announce that visit?

and lastly but most importantly;

7. If Nawaz Sharif took such a big risk and gambled to face this backlash by inviting the front man of Modi at this critical time for himself and his family, he must have weighed his options and benefits of this visit to Nawaz must have been bigger than the backlash that he must have provisioned for in his risk analysis; in case this meeting becomes publicly known.

 

[Kabira]

Guys get real. PM of Pakistan will not sell his own country, we are talking about Nawaz Sharif who is patriotic by default. I just hope he presented Pakistan case better in front of Modi chamcha. It's clear this meeting was organised by Modi under pressure because of Kashmir insurgency. Pakistan have moral high ground on IoK issue.

Also if this meeting was "secret" then they did horrible job. Nawaz could have met him in any foreign tour behind the scenes if they wanted to keep it secret.

 

[Realistic Change]

Guys get real. PM of Pakistan will not sell his own country, we are talking about Nawaz Sharif who is patriotic by default. I just hope he presented Pakistan case better in front of Modi chamcha. It's clear this meeting was organised by Modi under pressure because of Kashmir issue. Pakistan have moral high ground on IoK issue.

If that is the case then he could have used this card by going public (instead of clandestine meeting) and totally turn tables over everyone against him if he could deftly position his posture as of higher moral ground in IoK as you are stating. He could have used it in a way, that his opponents would have been sent out of the park if he can even slightly show that he is the boss and India is seeking concessions and now it's upto him how he plays on this long standing issue of Kashmir.

I just hope he did not reiterate his longstanding stance with Jindal and party in his this meeting of defying the two nation theory and lecturing the synonymousness between Allah and Bhagwan as he preaches - slightly different point of view of true nationalism than few hundred millions of people - no?

 

[Ryuzaki]

very interesting

 

[thesolar65]

If everyone knows about the meeting, how come it is secret?

 

[Realistic Change]

Poor choice by embattled PM in all possible angles of controversies by not announcing till it came out in media first and even after that Maryam tweeted about the meeting for nothing but damage control.

 

[Musafir117]

He know what he doing The Army and intelligence know what he doing We know what he doing SO what's the secret in it? And I doubt Army know every single moment of the incident and let PM to face it.

 

[Mrc]

this idiot pm of ours does not realise that he is hanging to his chair with his front teeth....he is still to be investigated by JIT and its not necessary for JIT to utilize full 60 days. they can come up with proofs in 2 weeks and get him the sack....
poor judgement....

 

[Clutch]

Guys get real. PM of Pakistan will not sell his own country, we are talking about Nawaz Sharif who is patriotic by default. I just hope he presented Pakistan case better in front of Modi chamcha. ....

"Patriotic by default"???... some would argue he is corrupt by default.

Nawaz has businesses in India... does Modi have business in pakistan? Patriotism start with one's own home first... seems like Modi (even thought he is a nut case) is more patriotic than nawaz. ...

 

[surya kiran]

This is a conspiracy by the Pakistani establishment to scuttle peace talks between the two countries. These kind of back channel diplomacy happens all the time. Especially between countries like India and Pakistan.

And @Clutch your signoff needs to change to Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, unless you meant 'my'.

 

[t_for_talli]

Guys get real. PM of Pakistan will not sell his own country, we are talking about Nawaz Sharif who is patriotic by default. I just hope he presented Pakistan case better in front of Modi chamcha. It's clear this meeting was organised by Modi under pressure because of Kashmir insurgency. Pakistan have moral high ground on IoK issue.

Also if this meeting was "secret" then they did horrible job. Nawaz could have met him in any foreign tour behind the scenes if they wanted to keep it secret.

Kahan ki Kahan le jaa rahe ho,
How come Kashmir came into this, Why would Modi sent Jindal for such issues.

JSW steel alone produces 3 times entire production capacity of Pakistan.

Jindal is a business men, key global player in steel business, Sharif group is also in to steel. So it is purely a business meeting, however considering current relations between countries there will be conspiracy stories

Nawaz Shariff ki personal business meetin thi

 

[Panther 57]

Guys get real. PM of Pakistan will not sell his own country, we are talking about Nawaz Sharif who is patriotic by default. I just hope he presented Pakistan case better in front of Modi chamcha. It's clear this meeting was organised by Modi under pressure because of Kashmir insurgency. Pakistan have moral high ground on IoK issue.

Also if this meeting was "secret" then they did horrible job. Nawaz could have met him in any foreign tour behind the scenes if they wanted to keep it secret.

With due respect. He has sold this country like anything. To who ever he can.

 

[Imran Khan]

whats wrong in back channel diplomacy ? is all ok