Nawaz Sharif to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in: Pakistan government sources

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the oath-taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on May 26 in New Delhi, said Pakistan government sources on Saturday.

Officials at the Pakistan foreign ministry had said the decision would be made public on Saturday. “The foreign ministry has not recommended him to visit India. The foreign ministry thinks this is not the right time for him to go to India,” a source said.

Sources had said Pakistan Prime Minister Mr Nawaz Sharif himself wanted to visit New Delhi and had also shared this idea with close aides, but he wanted to take the military and religious parties into confidence before flying to New Delhi.

Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Prime Minister Sharif, had met Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif on Friday to discuss "issues of national interest". Some sources said the younger Sharif, who is chief minister of Pakistan Punjab, might be sent as a special envoy to attend the oath-taking if Mr Nawaz Sharif does not get clearance from all who matter. "Then there are other people too, like Sartaj Aziz (adviser to PM on foreign affairs)," a source said.

India said it was patiently waiting for his decision, our correspondent in New Delhi reports. "We are patient people" and will wait for the outcome of the process undertaken by Pakistan for decision-making, said external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. If Mr Sharif does make the India visit, he will also be taking part in a short-duration bilateral meeting on May 27 with Mr Modi, who would by then have been sworn-in as India’s PM.

The Pakistan PM’s daughter, Ms Maryam Sharif, an important figure in her father’s PML-N party, tweeted: "I personally think cordial relations with new Indian government should be cultivated. Will help remove psychological barriers, fear and misgivings."

"She also tweeted: "It’s upon the leaders to lead their countries and people to peace and conciliation.”

In Lahore, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, lamenting Prime Minister Sharif’s possible visit to India, said on Friday that he should "feel the sentiments of the military before participating in the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as it would be considered a joke with the struggle of Kashmir and the Kashmiris."

Addressing to public gathering, Hafiz Saeed said Mr Sharif should explain whether he has changed his policy regarding India "after nuclear tests". "PM, before going to India, should first get an assurance from Modi if he is serious about resolving the Kashmir issue," he added.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) secretary-general Liaqat Baloch said India wanted to become a "greater India" and, therefore, the PM (Mr Sharif) "should not take any step in a hurry".The remaining six SAARC leaders as well as the PM of Mauritius have already confirmed their participation.