Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is still considering attending the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and a final decision will be taken by this evening after consultations with civil and military leaders, officials said today.
Foreign office has confirmed that a formal invitation has been received but any decision by the prime minister to attend the ceremony on May 26 in New Delhi has not been taken as yet.
Sources within Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that the prime minister wants to normalise ties with India and promote commercial and business activities.
"He is keen to improve ties which is also the official policy of the party but he needs to take various aspects of the relations into consideration," a top PML-N leader told PTI.
He said the invitation had come at a short notice and the premier needed time to accept it.
He also said that any decision about going to India will be made by the evening after consultations with civil and military leaders.
Diplomatic sources said the unexpected move by India's PM-designate has left Sharif with a difficult choice to make.
"If he skipped the invitation it will send a very negative message to India and the world but the acceptance may bring backlash from the hardliners and hawks who consider Modi as anti-Pakistani," said a diplomat.
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in
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