1st LD Writethru: Indian PM to meet Pakistani counterpart during stopover

Pakistan's Prime Minister House confirmed on Friday the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have a brief meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Modi has said on his personal twitter account that he will meet Sharif in Lahore, Pakistan, on his way back to New Delhi from Kabul on Friday.

Pakistan's state television reported that Sharif will receive Modi on his arrival at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.

The visit comes some two weeks after the two countries agreed during a regional meeting in Islamabad to resume their official dialogue process that was suspended following the 2008 attacks in the Indian commercial center of Mumbai.

"Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi," the Indian prime minister said on Twitter during his visit to Kabul where he inaugurated the building of the Afghan parliament.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah also confirmed Modi's visit.

Both Sharif and Modi leaders are likely to briefly touch upon key issues, sources said.

Earlier Modi also wished Nawaz on his 65th birthday in another Twitter message.

The Indian prime minister's visit is seen very important as it is expected give a boost to the efforts to normalize relations between the two neighbors. Enditem