Prime minister to lead four-member entourage at Modi’s inauguration.
ISLAMABAD:
Speculations ended on Saturday when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted the invitation to the swearing-in ceremony of India’s incoming premier Narendra Modi – a development welcomed on both sides of the border.
“In response to the invitation to the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-designate of India, Narendra Modi, the prime minister would be travelling to New Delhi on May 26,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Saturday.
“Adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs, secretary to the prime minister and the foreign secretary would accompany [him],” the statement added.
On Thursday, The Express Tribune reported that the prime minister is likely to travel to New Delhi to attend the ceremony, even though the Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam, had said that a decision had not been made at that point.
In addition, a senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Express Tribune on Friday that a bilateral meeting between Nawaz and Modi has already been fixed if “our prime minister decides to visit.”
The foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday that Nawaz will hold bilateral talks with Modi on May 27 and will also meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
According to the programme received from India, Premier Nawaz will have a bilateral meeting with Modi on the morning of May 27 and also call on the Indian president. The prime minister would return to Pakistan the same day, said the statement.
Modi will be sworn in as the 15th prime minister of India by President Mukherjee.
Nawaz is among a clutch of regional leaders who will be attending Modi’s inauguration. This is the first time in the history of India that a Pakistani prime minister has been invited to the oath-taking ceremony of an Indian premier. The decision to accept India’s unprecedented invitation was taken after consultations with all the stakeholders, said a foreign office official.
On May 21, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader invited Nawaz to his swearing-in ceremony following his party’s landslide win in the Lok Sabha election.
This latest gesture is considered significant, considering Modi’s anti-Pakistan rhetoric during his election campaign.
“It’s very good news that Nawaz has accepted Modi’s invitation,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi. “It will mark a new beginning in our ties.”
Modi’s invitation has inspired hopes that the change in government will lead to improved relations between the two countries.
A senior member of Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet said that bitterness with India should come to an end for a pleasant future of next generations in the two countries.
Pakistan respects the democratic decision of the Indian people of electing Narendra Modi as their prime minister like other countries who respected the Pakistani nation’s decision, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid journalists in Lahore.
He said Pakistan could not ignore changes in its neighbourhood as it would have to deal with the new elected government of India, adding the elected people would formulate foreign policies for the next five years. “Pakistan is responsible for its deeds and India for its own and we should keep our deeds correct,” he added.
Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, to be held at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan, is likely to be attended by as many as 3,000 guests.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2014.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Major Iqbal: Lion of Punjab will meet the Lion of Gujarat. Should be a very interesting meeting. . The PML(N) Party Symbol is a Tiger - Sher - *NOT LION . Cheers
@Anjaan: Reads realistically to me.
@Chulbul Pandey: Hahaaah! Chulbul! These characters are from the hinterland and retain that image day in and day out. Well said.
@Jag Nathan: Viva and Bravo! We should meet one day over a cup of tea. Have a nice day.
@A: The Imran khan trolls cannot appreciate anything.
Appeasement never works. One sided desire for peace will stay a dream. Why Nawaz had to go? Why must he had to legitimize the rule of Modi. I haven't noticed any of the other big countries sending their head of states.
Businees opportunity for Nawaz Shariff in Inida. Probably will ask for more Indian employees for his mill in Jeddah.
An Open Letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Dear Mr Nawaz Sharif,
Pakistan's problems are huge and has always been that way since 40 years.
But don't despair.
These are not normal times. And these are not the 80's.
I have some big recommendations for you
that can pull the country out of the crisis once and for all.
You see Mr, Prime Minister you don't have
to wait for 5 years, 10 years or longer to see the results of your govt policies.
The results would come in weeks and months and they would come fast.
The best part is these recommendations will benefits millions and millions of people in a positive
way.
So if you are ready, i will soon be sharing my KEY suggestions with you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Faisal Iqbal
The realistic scenario for the next five years is, there will be absolutely no movement in India Pakistan relations, as long as there is no progress in Pakistan's legal process against the Mumbai massacre masterminds ... and as long as Pakistan keeps demanding resumption of composite dialogue without any preconditions ... this might as well be the first and last meeting of the two leaders, not considering the short and insignificant meetings at the SAARC, UN or similar assembly of international leaders ...
The only saving grace may be some progress in bilateral trade ...
@Major Iqbal: Lion of Punjab will meet the Lion of Gujarat. . and you don't find that statement lame at all? Lions? Really?
Who else could be dearest to India than Nawaz Shariff
I wish them both well. I wish the best for the people of Pakistan and the people of India.
@Major Iqbal: Well Sir, now a days, wild lions are found only in Gujrat , India in the whole south Asia so Punjab one could only be a domesticated one ;)
It is indeed very gracious of Nawaz Sharif to accept Modi's invitation.
Lion of Punjab will meet the Lion of Gujarat.
Should be a very interesting meeting.