Modi's oath-taking: Pakistan has received no invitation, says FO

Source: The News International

ISLAMABAD: The swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third stint to be held on Saturday (June 8) in New Delhi wouldn't be a high-profile show as leaving his previous two occasions' tradition of inviting heads of governments of the SAARC member countries, the invitation isn't being extended to the leaders this time.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch told The News/Jang Wednesday that Pakistan hasn't received any invitation from New Delhi on account of it. When contacted later, the spokesman of Indian External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told this scribe from New Delhi that he was unaware of extending invitation to the SAARC countries' heads of states/government for the oath-taking ceremony, which has been slated for Saturday.

In the meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is on his maiden visit to Beijing, would be returning from the Chinese capital on Saturday and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to attend the oath-taking ceremony of his Indian counterpart even if he was invited.

The diplomatic sources indicated that New Delhi is making arrangements for the oath-taking ceremony hurriedly as the administration will have three days for making the arrangements after the compilation of the poll's results. Normally, it takes a week or 10 days but this time, the BJP leadership didn't give time to the opposition to play any tricks. As soon the the NDA ruling alliance chose Modi as candidate for Prime Minister's slot, the administration announced the schedule of the swearing-in ceremony.

The sources pointed out that Pakistan will be represented in the ceremony through its Charge d'Affaires Saad Warriach, who is the top diplomat from his country in Indian capital.

The diplomatic sources in New Delhi have hinted that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who has completed five years as External Affairs Minister of India and Ajit Doval as National Security Advisor (NSA) of Indian Prime Minister would continue in their respective offices. Home Minister Amit Shah who is known as think-tank of BJP and mentor of Modi may not retain his portfolio.

Some world leaders, including Chinese President Xi in Ping, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, have congratulated Modi on the victory in elections. "I extend my warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being reelected for a third consecutive term. May the friendship between India and Israel continue to surge towards new heights. Badhaai Ho!" Netanyahu tweeted.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, main opposition leader and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth congratulated, Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness, former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and Vice President of Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef were among the leaders who congratulated Modi on his election victory.

The sources said that Shahbaz Sharif would congratulate Modi on his election anytime on Thursday. It is understood that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif would consign his message of felicitation to Modi through social media platform X (formerly twitter) as did by Modi on Shahbaz Sharif's election in March this year.