The speculation is over. Defying hardliners within the powerful military establishment in his country, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to attend the swearing-in ceremony of India’s Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi in New Delhi on May 26.
Mr Sharif will be accompanied by a four-member delegation, which will include also Mr Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister.
According to the ruling party PML (N) spokesperson Tariq Azim, Sharif will be in India for a day-long visit and will be flying in to New Delhi from Lahore. Mr Sharif is also expected to have a brief bilateral meeting with Mr Modi.
“India receives confirmation of participation from Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to attend PM designate swearing-in ceremony,” Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of India’s foreign office, said in a tweet.
This will be Mr Sharif’s first visit to India.Mr Sharif has decided to come to India amid widespread speculation that the all-powerful Pakistani Army was opposed to such a trip and underlines the resolve of the Pakistani civilian leadership to seek a rapprochement with New Delhi by engaging the new Indian leadership. The attack on the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat, which has been blamed by India on the forces from across the border, had cast a shadow on the visit.
The world will be closely watching the first meeting between India’s new prime minister and Mr Sharif in New Delhi, which could set the stage for re-engagement between the two estranged neighbours.
The terror attack on the Indian mission in Herat and the alleged patronage of the Taliban by sections of Pakistan’s military establishment will figure in discussions between the leaders of the two countries.
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