Mehmal Sarfraz Column: Here's to new beginnings

Relations between India and Pakistan are as unpredictable as it can get One minute the two countries are at each others throats and the next we see the prime ministers of both nations holding hands But the year 2015 certainly ended on a good note for IndoPak relations A few months ago most people could not have predicted the handholding part but that is exactly what we saw just last week when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised everyone by making a brief stopover in Lahore It heralded a new day a new dawn for the two neighboursPM Narendra Modi shakes hands with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a surprise visit to Lahore on Christmas day PicAFPBack in November Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PM Modi met on the sidelines of the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris A statement from PM Sharifs office said ldquoBoth appeared in a friendly mood and the Indian PM left the meeting with a warm handshake with the Pakistani PMrdquoThis warm handshake was followed by a meeting of the national security advisors of both countries and a few days after Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Islamabad for the Heart of Asia Conference Ms Swaraj was the first cabinet member of the Modi government to visit Pakistan She announced the resumption of IndoPak dialogue which is now being called the Comprehensive Bilateral DialogueThe joint communiqueacute issued by Sartaj Aziz and Ms Swaraj said this new dialogue would discuss ldquoPeace and Security Confidence Building Measures CBMs Jammu amp Kashmir Siachen Sir Creek Wullar BarrageTulbul Navigation Project Economic and Commercial Cooperation CounterTerrorism Narcotics Control humanitarian issues people to people exchanges and religious tourismrdquoEveryone expected Ms Swarajs visit to pave the way for PM Modis expected visit to Pakistan for the next SAARC Summit in 2016 It took everyone by surprise especially the media in both countries when Mr Modi tweeted from Kabul last Friday that he would be making a brief trip to Lahore the same afternoon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally went to the Lahore airport to receive his Indian counterpart They left for PM Sharifs private residence in Lahore Some called it a photoop with no substantial outcome Others thought this gesture by the Indian premier will lead to a new beginning Whatever the outcome good or bad one cannot deny the symbolism attached to this stopover An Indian prime minister visiting Pakistan after more than a decade is of great importance in itself but for a man who is considered to be extremely hawkish when it comes to Pakistan to visit at such short notice even for a photoop is quite a breakthroughAn Indian friend commented that Modi is ldquoall show and no substancerdquo and added that anyone who believes he can bring change in IndoPak relations is setting themselves up for disappointment Whether this is true or not only time will tellIt is no secret that I am no fan of the current Indian premier but it would do a lot of good to the South Asian region if he is successful in normalising relations between the two nuclear neighbours As an optimist I am hopeful of a positive outcome of Modis Lahore trip The year 2016 has started on a good note for the Indian subcontinentHappy New YearThe writer is a Pakistani journalist Reach her at mehmalsgmailcom