Industrialist Sajjan Jindal in Lahore: Modi and Nawaz Sharif had reportedly secretly met in his hotel room last November in Kathmandu

Modi and Sharif's informal messenger, Sajjan Jindal Twitter pic

December 25, 2015, NewsCrunch

PM Modi's surprise visit to Lahore has brought industrialist Sajjan Jindal into limelight, who was in the Pakistani city on the same day.

The Congress party has alleged that Modi went to Lahore to promote the business interest of Sajjan Jindal though without naming him.

Sajjan Jindal is the elder brother of Naveen Jindal, a Congress MP; he is a key member of the Jindal group, which has diversified interests including steel. Forbes estimates the total worth of the Jindal family members, who have separated, at $ 6 billion.

It is not the first time Sajjan Jindal has been associated with Nawaz Sharif, nor is it the first time he has reportedly facilitated a meeting between Modi and  Sharif.

Unverifiable media reports state that that Sajjan Jindal advised Nawaz Sharif to invite Modi, who was in Kabul,  for lunch. The fact that December 25 was Nawaz Sharif's birthday provided the perfect alibi.

As Nawaz Sharif called, Modi responded positively and went to Lahore on the way back to Delhi.

Sajjan Jindal has been a controversial figure in Pakistan.

When Nawaz Sharif came to Delhi last May to attend Modi's inauguration, he accepted an invite for tea, which Sajjan Jindal had hosted in his house.

Nawaz Sharif had declined to meet Hurriyat leaders  and went to the tea party hosted by an Indian industrialist  - that was enough to get Pak media to go up in arms. Ironically, the incident made little news in India.

NDTV journalist Barka Dutt claims in her book The Unquiet land that last November Modi and Nawaz Sharif met for an hour in Kathmandu during the Saarc summit. The meeting, which was held secretly, lasted for an hour. Both the leaders agreed to keep talking informally.

The meeting, Barka Dutt claims, was held in Sajjan Jindal's hotel room. It was Modi, who initiated the meeting with Nawaz Sharif. He called up Sajjan Jindal and requested him to set it up.

So, Sajjan Jindal has been acting as an informal messenger between the two leaders.

So, what is his interest? Afghan iron ore, say reports.

Jindals are second largest steel manufacturers in India and are interested in procuring high quality but cheap iron ore from Afghanistan.

Afghan iron ore export to India will be cost effective only if Pakistan allows it right of passage and makes its ports available.

That is what is Sajjan Jindal is after, says The Economics Times.