Pakistani premier to attend Indian PM-elect’s inauguration

S AMABA AFP — Pakistani premier awa Sharif has accepted ndian prime minister-elect arendra Modi’s invitation to attend his swearing-in, his office said yesterday, in a bold diplomatic move aimed at mending strained ties.

ike all other heads of government from the South Asian Association for Regional ooperation, which includes Pakistan, Sharif had also been formally invited by ndia this week.

“Prime Minister awa Sharif has decided to visit ndia and attend the swearingin of... Modi,” his spokesman told AFP by telephone.

Modi will take the oath as prime minister on Monday, 10 days after his rightwing Hindu nationalist BJP scored a landslide victory, securing the first majority by a single party in 30 years.

Sharif, who is himself a center-right leader, has hailed Modi’s “impressive victory” and many diplomats hope the two men can thaw ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors.