Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart saying such initiatives send positive message that India is committed to have good relations with its neighbours.

“It sends positive message that India is committed to have good relations with neighbours and always willing to go extra mile to achieve it,” Chouhan said in a tweet last night after Modi decided to land at Lahore to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Stop over at Lahore by PM @narendramodi to personally extend birthday greetings to his counterpart is an exceptional magnanimous gesture,” he said in another tweet.

Modi yesterday sprang a surprise with a 150—minute visit to Lahore where he greeted Sharif on his birthday and also greeted family members at the marriage function of Sharif’s grand—daughter Mehrunnisa (daughter of Maryam Nawaz Sharif) at his Raiwind home.