Eight countries' leaders to be at Modi swearing-in

Leaders from all eight countries, including Pakistan, who were invited to the swearing-in ceremony of prime minister-designate Narendra Modi have confirmed their participation, the external affairs ministry said Saturday.

"We have received communication that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has accepted invitation to attend the swearing in ceremony," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters here.

"Consequent to this, all eight countries have confirmed their participation," he said.

Apart from Sharif, the dignitaries who are arriving include Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury - all from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam is also attending.