Cricket is Ice-Breaker as PM Narendra Modi Phones Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday telephoned Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as he reached out to heads of SAARC countries to wish them for the World Cup in Australia.

But just a day earlier, Nawaz Sharif had, in a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama, said India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council is unacceptable to Pakistan as it "had not complied with UN resolutions on Kashmir."  

This morning, PM Modi tweeted, "Spoke to President @ashrafghani, PM Sheikh Hasina, PM Nawaz Sharif & President Sirisena. Conveyed my best wishes for the Cricket World Cup."

Sources have told NDTV that PM Modi, in his conversation with Nawaz Sharif, joked about him playing in a warm-up World Cup match in 1987 alongside cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who is now Pakistan's top opposition leader.

Mr Sharif reportedly laughed and said, "Kash woh din dobaara aata (I wish those days would come back.)"

PM Modi also sounded out Nawaz Sharif on India's initiative to send new Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on a "SAARC yatra."

Sources say Mr Sharif then discussed the possibility of resuming foreign secretary level talks, which were cancelled in August last year amid a row over the Pakistan envoy's move to engage with Kashmiri separatists.

"The foreign secretary will discuss bilateral issues during his visit," said foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

Government sources say the outreach to SAARC leaders was PM Modi's idea. Official say it could pave the way for resumption of talks between India and Pakistan.

PM Modi tweeted this morning, "5 SAARC Nations are playing & are excited about the World Cup. Am sure WC will celebrate sportsman spirit & will be a treat for sports lovers. Cricket connects people in our region & promotes goodwill. Hope players from SAARC region play with passion & bring laurels to the region."