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Pahalgam terror attack: Unprecedented tensions are escalating between India and Pakistan post the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam - a prime tourist destination - on April 22, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vow to punish the Pakistan-backed terrorists and their master living in the neighbouring country. The entire world is worried ahead of a confrontation between the two nuclear powers. As a nuclear power, India understands its responsibility which is why like his predecessors, PM Modi also tried to carry forward the legacy of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who once said, "You can change friends, not neighbours," laying a framework to improve relationship with Pakistan.

During his ongoing regime in the last 11 years, PM Modi tried his best to normalise the ties with his three counterparts - Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif. Before the Uri terror attack, PM Modi's tryst saw unprecedented heights as PM Modi paid a short visit to Lahore and then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to New Delhi to attend an oath-taking ceremony on May 26, 2014.

PMModi

Here, we highlited major turning points in the relationships between PM Modi and his Pakistani counterparts: 

PM Modi-Nawaz Sharif: Nawaz Sharif used to share a very good rapport with PM Modi. He attended PM Modi's oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi and invited PM Modi to visit Pakistan. PM Modi also reciprocates with the same amount of affection. PM Modi paid a surprise visit to Nawaz Sharif's ancestor's home in Lahore on December 25, 2015. PM Modi was received by Nawaz Sharif with a warm hug in Lahore.

"Spent a warm evening with Sharif family at their family home. Nawaz Sahab's birthday & granddaughter's marriage made it a double celebration," PM Modi posted on Twitter (now X).

As it always happens in India-Pakistan's relationship, whenever two democratic governments come close to resolving standing issues, including the Kashmir dispute, Pakistan's Army and its intelligence service - ISI - mar all efforts by conspiring terror attacks on India. The developing bonhomie come to an end with the Uri terror attack on September 18, 2016, in which 19 Indian security personnel were killed. Subsequently, India launched a surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of September 28/29, 2016, killing dozens of terrorists.

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PM Modi-Imran Khan: PM Modi renewed his efforts to normalise the India-Pakistan relationship again when Imran Khan became Prime Minister. PM Modi congratulated Khan on August 20, 2018, saying "We are for good neighbourly relations." On another occasion, when Khan fell ill due to Covid-19, PM Modi tweeted wishing him speedy recovery. 

"Best wishes to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for a speedy recovery from COVID-19," PM Modi said on Twitter, now X.

Again, the Pakistan-based terrorist group, Jaish-e-Mohammed came into the picture. On 14 February 2019, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber attacked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, killing 40 jawans, leading India to carry off the Balakot airstrike. On February 26, 2019, twelve Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000 jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and dropped bombs into Balakot, destroying Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps and killing over 300 terrorists.

PM Modi-Shehbaz Sharif: During the Shehbaz Sharif regime, the relationship between the two neighbours remained cold as India maintained its stand that 'terrorism and talks can't go hand in hand'. But, on April 22, Pakistan once again played with fire by conspiring terror attack in Pahalgam. PM Modi once again pledged to avenge the deadly attack on innocent citizens. India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers, he said during a public event in Bihar on April 24.

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