New Delhi, May 24 – Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (pic) will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister- designate Narendra Modi in Delhi on May 26, ending two-day suspense over his decision amid reports that there was stiff opposition from hardliners in the establishment.
He will join other SAARC country leaders in the ceremony.
Pak government sources confirmed that the bilateral meet between Nawaz Sharif & Narendra Modi will take place on the sidelines of oath ceremony.
The delay in Sharif confirming his attendance in the oath ceremony is being attributed to opposition from hardliners in the army establishment.
Prime Minister Sharif had telephoned Modi to congratulate him on his party’s election victory and invited him to visit Pakistan after assuming office.
Shariff’s daughter supports cordial relationship
Earlier, Sharif’s daughter Maryam tweeted that cordial relations with the new Indian government should be cultivated.
“I personally think cordial relations with new Indian govt should be cultivated. Will help remove psychological barriers, fear & misgivings,” she tweeted.
She followed it up with another tweet, “It’s upon the leaders to lead their countries & ppl to peace & conciliation.”
Other key SAARC leaders who have confirmed that they will attend the ceremony at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi include Sri Lankan President President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Bangladesh will be represented by Speaker Shirin Chaudhury as Premier Sheikh Hasina is travelling to Japan.
The acceptance of invitation came after Pakistan’s Foreign Office recommended the PMO to accept the invitation on Thursday.
“The Foreign Office has made the recommendation and the decision will most likely be in favour,” a senior diplomat at the FO told Pakistan daily Dawn on Thursday.
Pakistan relationship – a debating point during election rallies
Modi had been tough on Pak sponsored cross-border terrorism during his election campaign, invoking the case of beheading of Indian soldier in Kashmir, to attack the Congress party. He had alleged that the Congress-led government was soft on terrorists. However, Modi became soft on Pakistan when it started becoming clear that he will become the prime minister. In various television interviews he said he will like to have friendly relations with India’s neighbours.
Nawaz Sharif was the first state head to congratulate Modi soon after the results were declared in Modi’s favour. During his conversation, Sharif invited Modi to visit Pakistan.
Modi will be administered the oath as 15th Prime Minister of the country by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony to be attended by over 3,000 guests. BJP had a landslide victory in the just-concluded polls in India to elect members of the 16th Lok Sabha and crossed the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member House on its own for the first time in its history.
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said protocol arrangements for foreign dignitaries at the swearing-in ceremony of Modi will be overseen by a senior and seasoned diplomat.
-India Today
