Nawaz Sharif May Accept Modi’s Invitation To Attend Swearing-in Ceremony

After Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony as the newly elected prime minister of India, reports from Islamabad indicate that Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may also attend the event on May 26.

Although it has not been confirmed officially, sources from Pakistan said Nawaz Sharif is likely to attend the ceremony on May 26 in New Delhi.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) spokesperson Siddiqul Farooq said, “The Pakistan Prime Minister will, in all probability, attend the event and reciprocate the goodwill gesture extended by the new government of India.

“Nawaz Sharif will meet the Indian PM and assure him of his government’s fullest co-operation to strengthen the bilateral ties,” he said.

A formal announcement in this regard could be made today.

Earlier reports suggested that Sharif might not attend the event and send a representative instead.

State-run Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan had, on Wednesday, quoted a foreign office spokesperson who confirmed that the invitation had been received.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister of India,” Radio Pakistan said.

Sharif had called Modi and invited him to visit Pakistan after the latter’s landslide victory in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections.
The invitation for the swearing-in ceremony comes even as many Pak analysts have expressed concern over the ties with India under Modi.