No decision yet on PM invitation for Modi’s oath-taking: FO

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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday rejected reports that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had accepted an invitation to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as India’s next prime minister, DawnNews reported.

Reports were circulating on various Indian media outlets that the invitation extended to the premier for the on May 26 ceremony had been accepted.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam on Thursday said no decision had yet been finalised vis-à-vis the visit.

Aslam said the invitation extended by the Indian side had been received and the prime minister house had been notified in this regard.

Earlier, diplomatic sources had said that a decision would be taken by the prime minister on the invitation after consultations with “stakeholders”.

Sharif is among the leaders of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) invited by Modi. It is the first time in Indian history that leaders from neighbouring countries have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of a prime minister.

Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have confirmed their participation in the ceremony.

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