India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony as Indian Prime Minister in the national capital on Monday. Confirming Sharif's decision, his PML-N spokesperson Siddiq Al Farooq told the Indian media: "On the invitation of Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will make a day-long visit to New Delhi."
The BJP welcomed Sharif's decision, saying India wants cordial relations with all its neighbours. Modi will take oath as the next Indian prime minister at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Indian President's official residence) at 6 pm (local time) Monday, and the 63-year-old has invited all heads of state of South Asian nations to witness the event.
After days of speculation Sharif's decision is significant as this will be for the first time in the last 65 years that a Pakistani prime minister attends the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian prime minister. The Pakistani prime minister's media advisor Tariq Azim had earlier said that Modi's invitation was a "bold and an unexpected" move and indicated that he could hold a one-to-one meeting with the Indian prime minister after the latter's swearing in. India's External Affairs Ministry has confirmed participation of Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom at Modi's swearing-in on May 26.
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