New Delhi, May 22 – In yet another first, Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi’s has invited the heads of all SAARC countries, including Pakistan, for his oath-taking ceremony on May 26.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin confirmed this, saying that the letters had been on Friday afternoon. “Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh wrote to her SAARC counterparts,” Akbaruddin said.
Akbaruddin said there had been “informal consultations” with SAARC members and that the ministry was hoping to get responses in the next few days. “This is, for us, a first of sorts; this is the first time that India has invited all SAARC members to attend a swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister,” he said.
SAARC comprises, besides India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. However, all eyes are on Pakistan to see if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will accept the unexpected invitation. Diplomatic sources said Sharif had received the invite, but could not say as yet if he would be attending teh ceremony.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, said the move was “excellent”. On Twitter, he said he hoped it would be the beginning of sustained talks between India and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh parliament speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will represent her country at the swearing-in. Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs M. Shahriar Alam confirmed this a Banglaedshi news channel, saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has to go to Tokyo on an official visit from May 24 to May 28.
-INDIA TODAY
