Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid. PHOTO: FILE
Contrary to expectations, no minister from the Indian government will be attending the oath taking ceremony of prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said: “Our High Commissioner (Sharat Sabharwal) was here. We talked this morning and he is going back to attend the swearing-in as other High Commissioners would.”
For the first time in the history of the two countries, the Indian Prime Minister’s special envoy Satinder Lambah, who enjoys a high degree of confidence with the Indian government and the PM personally, met Nawaz Sharif soon after the Pakistan elections, once it became clear that Sharif was going to become the next Prime Minister.
In the course of a foreign visit by the Indian Prime Minister, sources briefed reporters that India might have some political representation at the oath taking ceremony. However symbolic, this was expected to be India’s endorsement of a civilian government in Pakistan. It would have been the first time that an Indian minister would have attended the swearing in ceremony of a Pakistani Prime Minister.
However, there was apparently no appetite for risk taking. It is possible that India calculated that it would be a mistake to alienate the Pakistan Army and put all India’s political eggs in the Nawaz Sharif basket.
Speaking to reporters, Khurshid said it was a “local event and that there was no invitation from Pakistan for representation from India.
“As I understand, I think, it is a local event. Missions will all be represented. I am not sure if there are any invites for anybody to be coming. Certainly not to our knowledge and therefore there wasn’t any need to take decision on this.”
The minister also noted that there would “probably not be enough time between the formal election in the National Assembly and the actual swearing-in”.
COMMENTS (18)
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@syed baqar ahsan: yes kerry looger, Raymond davis, drones etc..............Countries take money and still cry 4 more.............
All initiatives of war and peace from Pakistan till Kargil were guided and controlled by Americans in Pakistan,now there after/since then everything of India moods are controlled by USA being great"ally"to used against China (need be-fools thinking)so whatever is said by Indians is not genuine.
@Not unexpected: Typical Indian snubbing attitude. You make bull---- talk of peace without reciprocating. This stand-offish attitude will not get you anywhere with us, dear boy. Salams
Salam Khurshid's statement is very shameful if Indian talks about the peace (Aman Ki Asha) then why are you not attending Nawaz Sharif's orth taking? You can not expect that the peace will came from the heaven. Nobody can do magic. It needs hard work from both the sides. Nawaz Sharif could also have rejected Indian ministry attending on his orth taking. Did he so? N he didn'y. Nawaz was sweat and invited Salman. When PM Ashraf was presented in Indian at that time Salman Khurshid said ''It's in our culture to take our guests open armed? But it's not in you culture to be polite. If you was polite then you would accept Nawaz Sharif's invitation. I really hope that the west is looking BTW the west advised Nawaz to build a god relationship with India. Now I hope that they can see India's real face!
There higher than mountains deeper than ocean friend is not coming.............. Atleast pakistanis have to understand that china is not there good friend. Only china bothered is there self interest that's it.
Mature decision from Indian Government. They shouldn't be seen too cozy with NS. There are too many spoilers in Pakistan establishments to project NS as an India lover. Go slow should be the motto.
Is Saudi King coming???????Chini ministers coming...............
it is not difficult to understand that nawaz sharif is giving india something extra that was not given by previous rulers , indians are more eager t have nawaz sharif as our PM., this extra would ofcourse be against national interest of Pakistan
Indian minister don't have time. Their political and official duties and house-hold chores keep them really busy. So, sorry Pakistan!
@Water Bottle:
"The best Nawaz can do is to make sure that no terrorist from Pakistan attacks any tas rget within India. Otherwise, the process will be derailed again."
If GOP, unlike GOI, is not sulking 24/7 over India's involvement in terrorist activities all over Pakistan through her stooges in TTP and Bloch separatist organizations, it does not mean Pakistani people are unaware of India's involvement. You cannot demand 'no-retaliation' while you are doing everything possible to destroy the other.
So who needs u in Pakistan,,,better to be in india we are doing very well without you d,nt need your culprits in Pakistan..
@Concerned??: "It seems India has got cold feet before the ceremony."
Did you read the news item? It seems no formal invitation has been extended to India. Where is the question of getting cold feet?
Nawaz Sharif should understand that until the new government comes to power in India, no substantial gain can be made in bilateral relationship.
The best Nawaz can do is to make sure that no terrorist from Pakistan attacks any target within India. Otherwise, the process will be derailed again.
It seems India has got cold feet before the ceremony.
But MNS will go to Bharat to pay his respects to his erstwhile friends without invitation.
Typically Pakistan. Give a press statement about inviting Indian Prime Minister without actually sending the invitation. Then claim that India is not reciprocating goodwill gestures.
Are any ministers from the deeper than ocean, taller than mountains friends coming?