‘We are dying to shake hands with Modi’: Shehbaz Sharif close aide makes BIG statement, says Pakistan missed ‘historic’ chance to…, what exactly happened?

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Special Adviser Rana Sanaullah Khan has made a notable statement on India-Pakistan relations, saying Islamabad missed a major opportunity to improve ties with New Delhi. Speaking during a television programme, Sanaullah said Pakistan failed to build on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to Lahore and is now facing the consequences. His remarks have drawn attention as bilateral relations between the two countries remain strained.

What did Rana Sanaullah say?

Speaking on a Pakistani television channel, Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan itself was responsible for losing a valuable chance to improve relations with India. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore in December 2015, he said the visit could have opened the door to lasting peace if it had been handled differently.

According to Sanaullah, political opposition and criticism inside Pakistan prevented the opportunity from being fully utilised. He remarked that Pakistan is now in a position where it wants better communication with India but cannot blame anyone else for the current situation. He added that Pakistan should learn from the past and acknowledge the mistakes that were made.

Backchannel diplomacy continues, adviser claims

During the interview, Sanaullah also spoke about Track 2 diplomacy, the unofficial communication channel often used to keep dialogue alive between countries during periods of political tension.

He claimed that backchannel contacts between India and Pakistan have never completely stopped, even when official diplomatic engagement remained limited. Sanaullah praised former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying efforts were made during his tenure to create an environment that could have improved regional peace. Although he did not directly mention every diplomatic initiative, his comments clearly referred to the period surrounding PM Modi’s Lahore visit.

Economic benefits could have followed better ties

Rana Sanaullah argued that stronger relations with India could have benefited Pakistan economically. He suggested that improved bilateral cooperation might have reduced Pakistan’s dependence on international financial assistance and helped strengthen the country’s economy.

According to him, peaceful relations between neighbouring countries often create opportunities for trade, investment and regional development. He said Pakistan lost valuable time by allowing political disagreements to overshadow diplomatic opportunities.

Why are the remarks significant?

The statement is significant because it comes from a senior adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a time when official relations between India and Pakistan remain limited. The comments also revive discussion about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unexpected Lahore visit in 2015, which was widely seen as an attempt to improve bilateral engagement.

While there has been no official response from the Indian government to Sanaullah’s remarks, his comments have sparked fresh debate over whether earlier diplomatic openings could have changed the course of India-Pakistan relations. Analysts say any future improvement in ties would depend on sustained political dialogue, confidence-building measures and mutual commitment from both sides.