However, a senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Express Tribune that a bilateral meeting between Nawaz and Modi has already been fixed if “our prime minister decides to visit.” PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is consulting his close aides and other ‘stakeholders’ on whether to accept India’s unprecedented invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of prime minister-in-waiting Narendra Modi.
Although a formal announcement was supposed to be made on Thursday, official sources said the decision will now be taken today (Friday) after taking all stakeholders, including the army, into confidence.
However, a senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Express Tribune that a bilateral meeting between Nawaz and Modi has already been fixed if “our prime minister decides to visit.”
A source in Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi disclosed that they had received ‘positive signals’ from the government so far and it was likely that Prime Minister Nawaz would respond to the invitation positively.
However, the delay in the formal announcement is apparently attributed to concerns expressed by the country’s security establishment.
The Express Tribune has learnt that other options such as sending Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif or Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to India are also being considered if Nawaz opts out of the visit.
“It is a normal practice that if the head of the government has some pre-occupations, he/she can nominate somebody else to represent him,” said foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam at her weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday. She confirmed that a final decision had not been taken yet.
When asked, Tasnim said she would not like to speculate about Pakistan’s expectations from the incoming government of India. However, she hoped that stalled peace process with India would resume.
“We expect that when the new government takes over in India, realising the importance of having peace in the neighborhood, the dialogue process between Pakistan and India will resume,” she added. She maintained that Pakistan not only wanted the dialogue to be uninterrupted and uninterpretable but also meaningful and constructive one with a view to resolving all outstanding issues.
Congress criticises, Kashmir leaders welcome invite
India’s Congress party on Thursday, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for inviting Prime Minister Nawaz to Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, Outlook Weekly reported. At the same time, political leader in Indian Kashmir welcomed the move, according to ANI news agency.
Talking to reporters, Congress leader Manish Tewari pointed out that BJP voiced a lot of anti-Pakistan rhetoric during its election campaign. “And now you have this invitation to Prime Minister of Pakistan.”
The Congress leader added that the BJP had earlier criticised their premier Manmohan Singh as well for moving ahead with normalisation with Pakistan.
The chief minister of Indian Kashmir Omar Abdullah, on the other hand, welcomed the move. “Excellent move by Modi to invite SAARC leaders, especially Pakistani prime minister for his swearing in. Hope this is beginning of sustained talks,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat, too welcomed the decision, adding this should also translate into addressing the Kashmir problem in line with the aspirations of its people.
US not attending Modi inauguration
Welcoming hopes of better ties between Pakistan and India, the US on Wednesday said it did not plan to attend Modi’s inauguration.
“Broadly speaking, we welcome increased engagement between India and Pakistan and their leaders and other... leaders in the region,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “[But] we don’t have any plans to send a representative from the US. It’s standard for events and inaugurations in India, so it should come as no surprise,” she told reporters.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (27)
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@Gp65: @numbersnumbers:
Mr Modi has been making conciliatory statements towards muslim citizens in the country and his neighbours? Is calling muslims brothers and sisters and promising protection from hindu nationalists and invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister enough to soften his image in the civilised world? You are too biased to make a judgemeent on this.
Rex Minor
All other SAARC heads accepted invitation without much thinking but it is only pakistan that seem to want some kind of talk which India is not so keen on.Remember it is just a photo ops and nothing else and expecting anything from India is foolishness,btw if pakistan PM does not go himself and send other as replacement then he will be singled out in SAARC and in World.So India just send out invitation to all SAARC members therefore pakistan cannot expect special treatment.It is just a goodwill gesture from Modi and nothing else and pakistan should grab this rare opportunity.
@Rex Minor: Babri mosque was destroyed on Modi's watch? Really?making stuff up are we?
@Rex Minor: Modi has already been invited by Obama to US and the invitation has been reiterated by Kerry. You are clearly not keeping up with the news.
In any case after the oriinal visa denial in 2005, Modi has never applied for US visa and has not shown any desire for that.
Clearly Indians elect their PM based on who is good for India - not based on diktats from US or Saudi Arabia.
First thing first: It is mandatory for all Pakistanis to have polio drops before entering India. Has the Prime Minister been administered polio drops?
@K:
You must be an Indian hindu who wants a divide between civil and military administration. Dont worry Pakistanis knew well to your Indian (Chankiya) tricks.
Though all heads of states in SAARC are invited but all eyes will be on Pak PM meeting the new PM elect of India. Nawaz Sharif should not miss this golden opportunity of breaking the ice between the two countries. The ball is in the Pakistan court.
@Rex Minor: In case you missed it, President Obama called Modi last Friday, congratulated him on his election and formally invited him to visit Washington!
Army is still pulling the strings?
So much ifs and buts for invitation. Take clues from Musharraf, he didnt think about that, he came to Indian border without even invitation. Though results were disastrous.
having no sense of self respect for this country nawaz sharif gave modi invitation to Pakistan at the blink of any eye at his election victory, now he would certainly crawl there with a submissive smile plastered on his healthy face
How can one forget destruction of Babri Masjid and killing of two thousand innocent Muslim men, women and children by modi's men , we need a Pathan in charge.
i think Nwaz Sharif should realy visit the Sworn in ceremony of Modi! Nevertheless he is worst in his political career for Muslims! But there is really need of close ties between two countries and two nations, as we see continual conflict between Hindu and Muslims! We should really smother that conflict now, because we both are atomic powers now! If PM Nawaz visit there, he should also meet with indian Muslims as well to take them in confidence on Modi's appointment, for whom Modi is no mere but a Muslim Assassin! We should also take our both Military establishments in confidence, because no matter how worst is our relationship, without peace efforts perpetual peace won't be possible in the South Asia!
Modi should invite Pak army chief he is real power centre of pakistan.
Nawaz should accept the invite and go to Delhi, but he must not snoop around for ways to get Kashmir into his pocket before returning home. Just be a good guest and observe which way the wind is blowing.
Of course he"ll need the army's permission, since they're the ones who rule Pakistan.
Nawaz Sharif must not lose the opportunity to start a new relationship with India. It will begin with his visit to Modi's inauguration. There is no time to waste. Both Modi and Sharif are pro-businesses and pro-trade. Let us focus trade and economy. These two prime ministers can change the destiny of South Asia.
The deep state in Pakistan won't allow Nawaz to come.Pakistan is the last country in the world when treatment of minorities are concerned.
There is nothing to think about, he must go to keep good relations with India in the future.
It will be of great interest and challenge to see who from the muslim leadership in the world will be the first to offer the hand of friendship to the man who is the member of RSS, criminal organisation and is accused of carnage of muslims and destruction of babry mosque on his watch. Unless the House of Saud remove their objection, Mr Modi will not be granted the entry visa by the Obama administration. . Rex Minor
India has shown no progress whatsoever on the composite dialogue, continues to engage in genocide against Kashmiris, and funds separatism in Balochsitan. Do not go, Mr. PM.
Another article with USA reference "not coming" when they are not even invited. Will they come like bin bulaya mehmaan in "saarc heads only" meet?
NS & family has too many business interests with Indian politicians if he wont go due to public sentiments then surely he would send his confidants after all NS is a businessman first and monetary interests are above national interests as seen by us all
"However, the delay in the formal announcement is apparently attributed to concerns expressed by the country’s security establishment." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ apparently seemingly allegedely......!
" Delhi invitation: Modi meeting pencilled in, despite uncertainty" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Incorrect Headline. Its an invitation to attend the Swearing in and not a meeting.
"Delhi invitation: Modi meeting pencilled in, despite uncertainty" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wow such decisiveness such dynamism such committment to peace err not peace but pencils:).