Nawaz Sharif (file photo)
Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif is "not too happy" with the way India handled his visit to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister, a media report claimed today quoting an unnamed leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) PML-N party.
A senior PML-N member told Dawn News that Mr Sharif felt belittled when there was no joint press conference after the one-on-one meeting between the two Prime Ministers.
Short of that, Prime Minister Sharif's delegation was expecting a joint communique, but none was issued and instead New Delhi unilaterally released a press statement which did not carry Islamabad's stance, the report said.
"Sharif is not too happy at his reception in India during his visit there to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi," the report said citing his party colleague.
India's statement had only a passing reference to Mr Sharif and did not appropriately acknowledge his presence, the PML-N member reportedly said.
The "abrupt and inadequate" press release by New Delhi, he claimed, forced Mr Sharif to hold a press conference of his own - where he read out a carefully-worded statement so that "whatever was achieved by the visit might not go waste".
The PML-N member said the Pakistan government was now pinning its hopes on secretary-level talks -- agreed upon by Pakistan and India during Mr Sharif's visit -- for some breakthrough in improving relations with India.