NARENDRA Modi has invited the leaders of Pakistan and other neighbours to his inauguration as prime minister, a spokeswoman for his party said today (May 21), in a bold step to embark on a policy of regional engagement.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be on the guest list of leaders from the eight-member South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) invited to attend Modi's swearing in next Monday (May 26), spokeswoman Nirmala Sitharaman said.
"All the SAARC countries have been invited through the proper channels to be part of the swearing-in ceremony" Sitharaman said. It was not immediately clear if Sharif would accept. Analysts said the visit would be politically difficult.
If the Pakistani prime minister were to attend the planned ceremony in the forecourt of the presidential mansion, it would be a first of sorts.
After his own election last year, Sharif's administration had also suggested that the Indian prime minister be invited as to attend the ceremony, but Manmohan Singh declined.
Sharif is known to have faced resistance from hardliners at home, notably within the armed forces, over his more dovish stance toward India. Indian television channel CNN-IBN cited unnamed sources said Sharif may not come for the ceremony and may send a representative.
"Still, politically its a great move, as the largest country in the region, India should be reaching out to its neighbours," C Raja Mohan, an influential foreign policy analyst said.
Pakistan's high commission in New Delhi said it had not yet received an invitation, which must be issued formally by the foreign ministry. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa will participate in the inauguration, his office said.
"The president has got the invitation similar (to) all other South Asian leaders. President Rajapaksa…will participate in the inauguration," a presidential aide said on condition of anonymity.
