Modi greets Nawaz on his birthday despite rocky Indo-Pak ties

NEW DELHI: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, notwithstanding the severe chill in relations between the two countries.

"Birthday wishes to Pakistan PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif. I pray for his long and healthy life," Modi tweeted.

Sharif turned 67 on December 25.

Last year on this day, Modi had travelled to Lahore on an unscheduled visit to wish Sharif personally and attend the marriage ceremony of his kin.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday celebrated his 67th birthday with his mother and family at his private residence in Jati Umra, Raiwind.

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of prime minister, tweeted the pictures showing the PM offering the birthday cake to his mother. The First Lady, Kulsoom Nawaz, is also seen in the pictures cutting the cake along with the premier.

The prime minister also visited the graves of his father, Mohammad Sharif and younger brother, Abbas Sharif. --INP