Love thy neighbour: Modi plays secret Santa, Sharif throws Christmas party
It is amusing to see small minds sexualise gestures of affection between Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Homophobia, in meme form, is a poor comeback even if you are unable to appreciate the diplomatic ingenuity of someone whose politics you disagree with.
I am quite thrilled that the two prime ministers met, especially in Lahore - a city that holds endless charm for anyone who has visited, and many who hope to.
I do not expect major shifts in foreign policy but do think of these baby steps as celebration-worthy. It is good to see the narrative of cross-border amity grow beyond the circle of those who are usually dismissed as peaceniks or mombatti mafia.
Now that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is speaking the language of good neighbourly relations, I am sure its supporters in India and abroad would also see the merit in engaging with Pakistan as a potential ally instead of an arch-rival.
The recent meeting in Lahore comes almost exactly a year from Modi reaching out to Sharif, specifically, and Pakistanis, at large, after the Peshawar massacre. The goodwill gesture had, by accident or by design, catalysed the process of children in numerous schools across India seeing Pakistanis in a new light - not as terrorists, but as victims of terror.
Prayer meetings were held. Cards were made. The enemy became someone whose grief we could feel and share. In retrospect, this moment seems like an aberration since some mean-minded politicians from the BJP have been repeatedly referring to Pakistan as the place anti-national Indians ought to be sent(enced) to.
However, it is good to see the BJP singing a different tune now, and a number of journalists welcoming the power of back-channel communication between Modi and Sharif away from the media spotlight.
Since Christmas is a good time to ask for gifts, here are three on my wish list that would be great for both countries to receive: long-term visas for university students to spend a year's study or internship semester in the other country, encouragement from both governments to female entrepreneurs developing cross-border projects, and sustained support for collaboration between groups working on solutions to address climate change issues.
New Year's Eve, they say, is a good time to make resolutions. Given that both prime ministers have committed to improving cross-border ties, I am hoping that they will be able to carry through their stated intentions, despite any pressure to go astray.