Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no plans to visit Lahore and was supposed to come back from Kabul to New Delhi. But his impromptu plan to visit Lahore sent the security into action, which managed Modi’s visit with aplomb.Modi had called Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to greet him on his birthday, when Sharif asked Modi to visit Islamabad.
Sharif, who was in Lahore for his granddaughter’s wedding, said he won’t be able to make it to Islamabad and requested Modi to come to Lahore.
This plan of a pit stop in Lahore, that too at Sharif’s residene, which is 45 kilometres away from the airport, was successful all thanks to the security of both the countries.
Senior government officials aware of the deliberations told ET, “Aap Lahore mein ghar aa jayiye, Lahore ke darwaze bhi aap ke liye khule hain (Come to my Lahore home, the doors of Lahore are also open for you).
Then the security concerns were discussed with NSA Ajit Doval and the SPG officials.
"Islamabad has an institutionalised security protocol and setup for VVIP visits from the US and elsewhere which we were comfortable with even in the case of a sudden trip. But the Lahore surprise pit-stop was a big challenge for the SPG," a senior official told ET.
The security overcame two challeneges-IAF chopper at Lahore airport and Modi’s 45-kilometre road journey from the airport to Sharif's Raiwind Palace through the heart of Lahore.
Pakistan promised foolproof security at the Lahore airport and assured a Pak Air Force Chopper would fly both PMs to Raiwind and back.
"Sharif flying in the same chopper with Modi was the biggest assurance that security would be top-notch," a senior official told ET.
(Image: PIB)