Even If Nawaz Sharif Wants To Come On Monday, Will Pak Army Let Him?

NEW DELHI: The government is still awaiting confirmation from Pakistan on whether or not Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is going to attend PM-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in on Monday. Pakistan did hail Modi's initiative as a bold move.

Leaders of all other Saarc countries, and also Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam, have confirmed their participation apart from Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina who will be in Japan on Monday. Bangladesh will be represented by its Parliament Speaker. The Mauritius PM was invited after a telephonic conversation with Modi.

READ ALSO: Sharif, other Saarc heads invited for Modi's swearing-in

"The invitation is a bold and unexpected move. Mr Sharif does not share the anxiety that is felt by some quarters here in Pakistan because he has got some very fond memories of the previous BJP prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee coming to Lahore and he hopes that this anxiety about Modi and his past will fade away," Tariq Azim, media advisor to Sharif's party PML (N), told a news channel.

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Thursday said there was also the option of someone else being sent to represent Sharif, leading to speculation that Sharif's party was divided on the issue. Sources here said Sharif may also be influenced by whatever feedback he gets from Pakistan's military establishment.

Sources here said Modi and Sharif, if he does come, will have their first bilateral meeting on May 27. Modi is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with all other visiting leaders the same day.

The Pakistan foreign office spokesperson suggested that Islamabad may consider sending a representative for Sharif. "It is normal practice that if the head of state has a preoccupation then he can nominate someone else. There is no violation of protocol,'' she said.

READ ALSO: Nawaz Sharif may skip Modi inauguration

The UPA-2 government has been upset with Islamabad in the recent past for not granting non-discriminatory market access to India for furthering trade ties. It alleged that the Sharif government did this under pressure from the army. Indian officials believe that the two countries could start afresh if Sharif indeed attends Modi's oath-taking ceremony.

READ ALSO: Some in Pak govt still back terror: Deputy NSA

By inviting Sharif, Modi has also put the onus on the Pakistani PM to kick off the stalled dialogue process. This is especially true in the light of assertions by Pakistani authorities that Islamabad was willing to have a meaningful, result-oriented dialogue with India under Modi but that the initiative to break the logjam had to come from Modi himself.

READ ALSO: Incoming Modi government should expeditiously reset stalled regional ties

READ ALSO: Jaya slams invite to Lankan President Rajapaksa

READ ALSO: Tharoor jibe at Modi: Let's hope Sharif is served biryani