Family diplomacy: Nawaz Sharif's brother Shahbaz Sharif to be in Delhi; meet Indian leaders

NEW DELHI: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's brother and Chief Minister of the Punjab province of the neighbouring country Shahbaz Sharif is expected to be in Delhi in January last week to take part in the death anniversary of the 13th century Sufi saint but is also expected to meet top Indian leaders including the PM in the backdrop of renewed attempts to normalize ties between the neighbours.

Shahbaz's visit to Delhi has been on the cards for sometime now, informed sources said, adding this could contribute to thawing of ties. A key aide of his elder brother Shahbaz was present at the Lahore airport when Narendra Modi touched down there as well as when the two PMs met for a dialogue at Nawaz residence in Lahore on Sunday evening.

After Modi's brief visit to Lahore, on his way back from Kabul, which came a surprise to all, Shahbaz visit could further Composite Dialogue process. The two foreign secretaries are meeting to kick start the dialogue process on Jan 15 in Islamabad.

Shahbaz is not a stranger to India having visited India in the past. He was last here towards the fag end of the UPA regime.

In fact his visit is part of promotion of religious tourism category under the dialogue process. Facilitation of religious tourism between the two countries has been discussed more than once as it was not only mentioned in a statement issued after Sushma Swaraj's visit to Islamabad but was also mentioned in the Ufa statement in July.