ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keeping cards close to his chest on the invitation by India for attending the swearing-in ceremony of premier-designate Narendra Modi.

Mr Sharif is the only invited leader who is yet to take the decision.

Mr Modi had invited seven leaders of Saarc member countries, including Pakistan, and the prime minister of Mauritius.

All, except Pakistan, have already confirmed their participation.

A close confidant of Prime Minister Sharif disclosed that he had already made up his mind, but was waiting for the right time to make the announcement.

Invitation to Modi’s oath-taking ceremony being weighed for substance

His ministers, meanwhile, keep insisting that a decision is still to be taken.

If Information Minister Pervez Rashid were to be believed, Prime Minister Sharif would take the decision about going to Delhi or otherwise at the last minute.

He told reporters in Lahore the decision would be taken by Monday — the day Mr Modi is to be sworn in.

Mr Sharif’s primary consideration was whether or not he would get a meeting with Mr Modi as one of his aides put “we need to see whether he goes there for a photo-op or something substantive”.

Indians have now indicated the possibility of a meeting on May 27 — a day when Mr Modi intends to personally meet all the invited regional leaders.

But analysts are of the opinion that the attack on Indian Consulate in Afghan province of Herat on Friday can be a complicating factor.

Indian bureaucracy has begun alluding to whom they suspect.

Responding to a question about the Herat attack, spokesman for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said: “This attack once again underscores that the main threat to Afghanistan and its peace, stability and security, stems from terrorism beyond its border.”

In case of some serious adverse development in ties, Mr Sharif’s Plan-B is to send his adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz to represent him.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2014