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Narendra Modi inauguration: Pakistan PM Sharif invited | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
India has invited Pakistan's leader Nawaz Sharif to Narendra Modi's inauguration as prime minister, Mr Modi's BJP party has said. | |
This is thought to be the first time a Pakistani leader has been invited to such an event. | This is thought to be the first time a Pakistani leader has been invited to such an event. |
Other leaders from the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) are also on the guest list. | |
But analysts say Mr Sharif's inclusion is of special significance given tense relations between India and Pakistan. | |
Mr Modi, who led his BJP party to a landslide win in the recent election, will be sworn into office on 26 May. | Mr Modi, who led his BJP party to a landslide win in the recent election, will be sworn into office on 26 May. |
Results show the BJP won the biggest victory by any party in India for 30 years, gaining a majority in parliament and trouncing the outgoing Congress Party. | Results show the BJP won the biggest victory by any party in India for 30 years, gaining a majority in parliament and trouncing the outgoing Congress Party. |
On Wednesday Mr Modi Modi stood down as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, a post he has held for 12 years. | |
Difficult neighbours | Difficult neighbours |
Mr Modi is seen as an uncompromising hardliner on national security issues, and his BJP party has long advocated a tough stance on Pakistan. | Mr Modi is seen as an uncompromising hardliner on national security issues, and his BJP party has long advocated 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. | But correspondents say his huge election victory gives him a mandate to reach out to Pakistan in a way the previous administration could not. |
Mr Sharif will be under pressure to attend Monday's swearing-in at the presidential palace in Delhi, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad reports. Last year he invited Manmohan Singh to his inauguration but his then Indian counterpart did not attend. | |
According to Pakistan's high commission in Delhi, it has yet to receive an invitation for Mr Sharif, and analysts say is unclear how he will respond to the offer. | |
But the very fact that an invitation is being offered by Mr Modi is being seen as a gesture of friendship - and perhaps a clever tactical move by the new Indian leader. | |
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947 - and, more recently, bilateral ties suffered badly in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed by Pakistani gunmen. | India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947 - and, more recently, bilateral ties suffered badly in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed by Pakistani gunmen. |
Relations have improved slightly under Manmohan Singh, but there are still regular skirmishes on the disputed border in Kashmir. |