Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waves upon his arrival at the airport in New Delhi May 26, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Upon arriving in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of India’s incoming premier Narendra Modi , Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that he is looking forward to his meeting with Modi, Express News reported on Monday.
In an interview with an Indian television channel, Nawaz said the meeting is crucial for both countries. He also added that ties between the two countries should improve.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Policy Sartaj Aziz, Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, PM Principal Secretary Javed Aslam, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and premier's son Hussain Nawaz are accompanying Nawaz on his trip.
Nawaz on May 24 had accepted Modi's invitation to the swearing-in ceremony – a development welcomed on both sides of the border.
The premier, while speaking to the Indian media, said that better relations with India were the top priority, further stating that he was going to India with a message of peace.
Nawaz also said that "negotiations were the only solution to the problems between the two countries."
On May 22, The Express Tribune reported that the prime minister is likely to travel to New Delhi to attend the ceremony, even though the Foreign Office spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam, had said that a decision had not been made at that point.
In addition, a senior official, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Express Tribune on May 23 that a bilateral meeting between Nawaz and Modi has already been fixed if “our prime minister decides to visit.”
Nawaz will hold bilateral talks with Modi on May 27 and will also meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee.
Modi will be sworn in as the 15th prime minister of India by President Mukherjee.
Nawaz is among a clutch of regional leaders who will be attending Modi’s inauguration. This is the first time in the history of India that a Pakistani prime minister has been invited to the oath-taking ceremony of an Indian premier. The decision to accept India’s unprecedented invitation was taken after consultations with all the stakeholders, said a foreign office official.
On May 21, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader invited Nawaz to his swearing-in ceremony following his party’s landslide win in the Lok Sabha election.
This latest gesture is considered significant, considering Modi’s anti-Pakistan rhetoric during his election campaign.
Modi’s invitation has inspired hopes that the change in government will lead to improved relations between the two countries.
Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, to be held at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan, is likely to be attended by as many as 3,000 guests.
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COMMENTS (53)
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@Gul: Do you think any of your wars with India worked?
@observer: I think after monopolizing the poultry business in Punjab the Sharif family wants to monopolize the commodity markets in Pakistan by importing cheap from India to make huge money, money is what Sharif family appears concerned above petty things like Pakistan's interests
@JQ: Why you are always negative if you can not appreciate a good gesture please do,nt condemn it. Hope this is a step in right direction. We have been hating each other without any reason for the last 67 years how long we will carry on the same, give peace and friendship a chance.
@Timorlane......Hussain nawaz went to India to take contract for motorway..
@shaukat Naeem Ghumman: Yes dear Ghumman you are absolutely right, he is an able administrator, expert politician very hard working and above all he is not corrupt, he is the CM of Gujrat for the last twelve years and he has changed the face of the state. Let us wait and see his work as PM and I pray that the relations of India and Pakistan becomes very cordial like USA and Canada where people can travel without any visa. Let us hope for the good and I will also request you to pray for this.
@Mega: Yes mega youre right. Modi was not the one who said this. My apologies. However he just shared the stage at his rally at kaylan, mumbai with one of the guys who said this. And no for you ease il quote an indian news paper which says
Speaking at a rally in Kalyan, Mumbai, on Monday night, Shiv Sena MLC Ramdas Kadam threatened revenge against Muslims and assured the audience that Modi would destroy Pakistan in six months of assuming power.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/shiv-sena-leader-ramdas-kadam-hate-speech-against-muslims-narendra-modi/1/357009.html
@PeaceMonger: no thanks, keep you mad modiness to yourself.
@Someone: Yes we have seen your trailer that is happening inside Pakistan with thousands dead.
@Shoeb: The state of mind expressed is called PESSIMISTIC. If something has not changed in 60 years, it does not mean that it can not in next few years!
@someone the person who did samjauta express is already in jail. We don't tolerate such nonsense in our country. When are you punishing or prosecuting Mumbai ones? Remember samjhauta case was cracked by our own agency we don't hide or brush mad people under the carpet and the case was/is a tough one cox someone planted bomb and ran away without any clue. But mumbai was live taped with caught person and belongings. Problem is not having bad people sabotaging talks, it is when there's no check and balance justice system to punish them.
Excellent moves by both PMs - shows leadership and maturity on both sides
@Rahul: And if Samjhauta Express happens again, you know what the trailer will be.
@naeem he's neither hopeless nor murderer failing to control riots that broke out when he was chief minister doesn't make him murderer. If so many world leaders would have to be called that fail controlling their own citizen then.
I feel bad for nepal PM,Bangladesh,Maldives and Mauritius PM who will be ignored and overshadowed in media and press due to indo pak meet
The nation is with the civilian leadership. People may have "their" own reservations with NS, but he is surely sincere in improving Pakistan's ties with neighbours. Mr PM you have all our support
I hope Modi and NS will achieve what Vajpaye sahib and NS couldnt get despite all sincerety.
Just increase his personal business
Nawaz Sharif will be modified but Modi can not be modified he is a hopeless case. @PeaceMonger:
Must be around 40 degrees Celsius in Delhi now -- can't we wear our cool South Asian summer dress instead of hot stuffy suits and neck-tie???
Sharif is welcome but keep in mind that if 26/11 type incident happens again Godhra will only seem like a trailer.
Its a good gesture from our end.
It seems that India and Pakistan are ready to turn a new leaf in their mutual ties. It is an encouraging development that Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi has extended invitation to his Pakistani counterpart to attend his swearing-in ceremony. Fortunately, Nawaz Sharif has responded positively. I am sure these gestures will pave the way for the restoration of healthy ties between the neighboring countries mired in identical problems. Modi’s track record as the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat as a decisive economic reformer, a doer and a result-oriented leader is widely acclaimed and acknowledged. For Pakistan, expansion of economic activities to India will be very fruitful. The Pakistani government should show flexibility and engage the new Indian government in talks and should also consider granting India special facilities to invest in Pakistan. Shaukat Naeem Ghumman Riyadh Saudi Arabia
In the game of bilateral political chess.......this was a good move.
@IK: on which channel can we see that?
Welcome to India NS
@mustafa alvi I don't think he said exact this statement "he would bomb pakistan and end pakistan" surely it's twisted by your reporters. And even if at all he did say it, it would be in context of Pakistan again wages war on us, or proxy wars and attacks like mumbai. No leader is mad enough to bomb people for no reason, even we won't tolerate such lines by leaders. It's to send a message that attack on his country will be responded in same way. But I still feel his statement must be taken out of context.
He should go for the sake of formality. Have a nice lunch/dinner, enjoy oath taking ceremony and return without any talks
Wasnt modi the guy who announced he would bomb and end pakistan?
@MAD: There have been many business reports teling of the possible huge profits the Sharif family and their cronies can earn while doing business with india mostly importing from them for the detriment of the industry and agriculture in Pakistan
what is Mr. Hussain Nawaz the businessman son of Mr. Nawaz Sharif doing in the delegation?
@bash gul what ball? He will tell him to shut terror machines and business can get back to normal as usual. Will that happen? Only sharif can tell if he can overpower estab and non state actors. Btw modi will be hectic busy for three years. focusing on domestic issues in india's not complicated foriegn stuff. We are not small country like yours 30 states and 7union territories demand his attention. @realist he was chief minister for 12 years in Gujarat and he never looted or took bribes. His brother and other family member still live in broken house and sell vegetables. He hardly visits them once or twice year. He's taken monk type status leaving all material gains and attachments to serve the country. He was child married by parents, after marriage girl goes her home and returns when she's 18. When she came back he told her he can't be her husband, and leaving to serve the country. That She should continue her studies and move on get married. He deciplined himself in shakas,sleeps only 6hrs,walks at 6am and gets back to work. He's not corrupt and never will be.
Has Mr. Nawaz been vaccinated for Polio?
Interesting days when an incompetent PM (Nawaz) will actually outshine his counter-part in the moral dimension (Modi, who may not have plundered his country yet but encouraged/allowed/sanctioned the cold-blooded murder of so many of his own countrymen!)
A good gesture by PM Nawaz Sharif. There won't be any outcome, at least the formality of accepting was in good faith. Since all the Saarc countries leaders will be present, the atmosphere will be very diplomatic and cordial. Now the ball is in Modi's court.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, please let taxpayers know if Hussain Nawaz traveled on public or private expense?? Is their anyone who can ask our Ameer to explain to public?
@fawad: Indian people have one advantage with Modi already in advance.......there shall be no Modi dynasty!
Smart Move by both Countries
the invitation said +1.
We welcome Mr Sharif, but sadly i dont see anything changing.Relations between Ind-Pak can never improve as there is no real interest in changing them.
They have not changed in 60 years and will not change in the future also
Very good decision; need of the hour is 'PEACE' everywhere.
Why is hussain nawaz accompanying him?
Our PM Modi has done a good job by inviting all neighboring PMs with good gesture, because its only way Modi can show India and the whole world his good intentions.
Modi has unnecessarily been a victim of being tainted as a mass murderer throughout the world, without no fault of his. Even though he has been given a clean chit by the courts in India, he has suffered a lot these 12 years. All the sick politicians in India harassed him like anything.
Now ultimately the truth has won and the God is in Modi's favor.
@PeaceMonger: You mean Nawaz Sharif will become a merciless killer on his return?
What business does Hussain Nawaz have on this trip?
Hussain nawaz accompanying father.business with pleasure.
Welcome to India Mr Nawaz Sharif .
@IK one line for you. "ur cheap and ignorant"
1stly, we wish our PM a safe journey with depth of our hearts n wish his safe return home. 2ndly, Modi's invitation n our PM acceptance against all odds, probably history will appreciate. Question is will Modi n his India use this gesture with the sense of responsibility or let slip through it's fingers? India/Pakistan can't start any good relation with normal song of "Kashmir being India's Atutang", Bombay episode, delivery of Dawood n Saeed etc. It's about time both countries, their armies n people must realize/understand they have no choice BUT to live with each other, other choice would be disastrous for both of them let alone rest of the world.
Hope he didn't forget his notes.
Appeasement will never work with India, PM Sharif.
The first step taken to keep the head down and always made to shake the heads. Nawaz please be seated at the back row.
There is no dignity left its just always BIG no from the other side and always YES YES YES Papa from our side.
Nawaz Sharif will be Modified when he returns. Rest of Pakistan should also Modify itself.
Welcome to Bharat