Pakistan says to decide whether to accept Modi’s inauguration invitation

If Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attends the swearing-in ceremony, it would be the first in the history of the nuclear-armed rivals who have fought three wars since independence in 1947.

ISLAMABAD // Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif has received an invitation to attend the inauguration of Indian Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and will decide on Thursday whether to accept, the foreign office said.

India invited Mr Sharif and other South Asian leaders to attend Mr Modi’s swearing-in on Monday.

If he attends, it would be the first in the history of the nuclear-armed rivals who have fought three wars since independence in 1947.

“The invitation was received yesterday,” Pakistani foreign office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told reporters.

“A decision whether the prime minister would attend or not will be taken some time today.”

After his own election last year, Mr Sharif’s administration had also suggested that the Indian prime minister be invited to attend the ceremony, but Mr Modi’s predecessor, Manmohan Singh, declined.

Mr Sharif came to power promising to rebuild relations with India but he has been under pressure to toughen his stance from hardliners at home, particularly within the army.

Mr Modi’s party has long advocated a tough stance on Pakistan, a view reflected in his vigorous election campaign, and India’s new leader is seen as an uncompromising hardliner on issues of national security.

But Ms Aslam said Pakistan saw this as a chance to improve relations.

“We hope the dialogue process between India and Pakistan will resume,” she said. “It would be a meaningful dialogue, it would be constructive talks, and it would be dialogue with a view to resolving outstanding disputes between our two counties so that this region could have durable peace.”

* Reuters