BJP lauds Sharif's decision to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday welcomed the decision of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Monday evening, and said it will mark the beginning of a new relationship between India and Pakistan.

It is very good news that Nawaz Sharif has accepted Modi's invitation. This will mark a start of a new relationship between India and Pakistan," said BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar.

Sharif has accepted India's invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi on Monday evening.

Television channels such as NDTV and Times Now quoted Sharif's media advisor Tariq Azim, as saying that Sharif will fly to New Delhi for the event.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaz Aziz is also expected to accompany him.

Nawaz Sharif will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Delhi and hold bilateral talks with Modi on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony, according to Pakistan Government sources.

India has invited leaders of all South Asian countries, including Nawaz Sharif to Modi's oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 26.

The swearing-in ceremony, to be held at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan, is likely to be attended by as many as 3,000 guests, the report added.