BBC News – Pakistan PM Sharif to go to Modi inauguration in India

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is to attend the inauguration of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India on Monday. Narendra Modi (L), Nawaz Sharif (R)

It is the first time since the two countries won independence in 1947 that a prime minister from one state will attend such a ceremony in the other. The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought three wars in the past 60 years. Mr Modi is seen as a hardliner on national security issues. His BJP party advocates a tough stance on Pakistan. But correspondents say his huge election victory gives him a mandate to reach out to Pakistan in a way the previous administration could not.

Bilateral ties suffered badly in the wake of the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai, when 166 people were killed by Pakistani gunmen. Relations improved slightly under outgoing PM Manmohan Singh, but there are still regular skirmishes on the disputed border in Kashmir.

Mr Singh was invited to Mr Sharif’s inauguration last year but did not attend.

via BBC News – Pakistan PM Sharif to go to Modi inauguration in India.

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2 Comments to “BBC News – Pakistan PM Sharif to go to Modi inauguration in India”

  1. RAMESH GANDHI's avatar

    Yes, it is the first time a Pakistani Leader has been invited to an inauguration of his newly elected Indian opposite number. It looks like a new start for both countries. Mr Modi is a new man (with an absolute mandate and also a departure from Gandhi-Nehru dynasty) has extended his hand, as a gesture of a new beginning between two neighbouring nations.

    Whilst commenting on this, I have just read BBC online news that Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif has ordered the release of 151 detained Indian fishermen on the eve of his visit to India for Narendera Modi’s Inauguration.

    I think both deserve the praise!

    Like

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