3rd LD Writethru: Indian PM Modi wraps up Pakistan visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for New Delhi Friday evening after an over-two-hour visit to Pakistan during which he held talks with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

The two leaders had a one-and-a-half hour meeting at the official residence of Sharif in Lahore, officials said. Several ministers and Pakistan's top diplomat Aizaz Chaudhry attended the meeting.

Sharif was at the Lahore airport to see Modi off.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said that both leaders have agreed to maintain good neighborly relations.

State television quoted the foreign ministry as saying that Sharif welcomed the unscheduled visit of his Indian counterpart.

"Both the prime ministers decided to work for the welfare of the people," the foreign ministry said.

The Indian prime minister had a stopover on his way back to New Delhi from his visit to Kabul.

Modi's visit was seen very important ahead of the resumption of the official dialogue between the two countries next month after a break of nearly eight year. The "Composite Dialogue" will restart after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The Indian prime minister's visit was widely welcomed in Pakistan and political watchers termed the visit as very important development. Endit