PM Narendra Modi with Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif during a meeting in Delhi on May 27. (Agence France-Presse)
Several cases of mangoes have been delivered to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The sender: his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif.
The mangoes, of the Sundari and chausa variety, reportedly Mr Sharif's favourites, are being seen as a peace offering. Over two weeks ago, India called off talks with Pakistan after its envoy to India consulted Kashmiri separatists ahead of a scheduled meeting of the Foreign Secretaries of both countries.
India says it had warned Pakistan, "Either have a dialogue with the separatists, or with us."
Pakistan said in response that it is obliged to consult "all stake-holders" in Kashmir, a statement that did not de-aggravate bilateral tension.
Later this month, the PM will travel to New York for the UN General Assembly session before moving to Washington for a summit with President Barack Obama. Pakistan is reportedly keen for Mr Sharif to meet with Mr Modi on the sidelines of the UN session, though no formal request has been filed so far.
In May, when Mr Modi won a massive victory in the national election, he surprised many by inviting South Asian leaders including Mr Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony. On his first day in office, Mr Modi met with Mr Sharif and the leaders agreed to work on improving relations. Talks between their Foreign Secretaries were set up as a consequence; their cancellation last month indicated how complex it will be for both countries to make progress in rebuilding ties.
When Mr Sharif attended Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony, he was gifted a shawl for his mother. A few days later, the Pakistani premier sent a white sari as a present for Mr Modi's mother.