Following the success of the general elections in Pakistan, the bonhomie between Nawaz Sharif, who is likely to become the country’s new Prime Minister, and the Indian establishment has scaled new heights.
Sharif said he would be “very happy” to invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his swearing-in. Even though the Election Commission is yet to announce the final results, it didn’t stop Manmohan from reaching out to Sharif, with a congratulatory message addressed to “dear Mian Saheb” on Sunday. The PM had extended an invite to Sharif, who reciprocated the gesture.On Monday, Sharif went a little further and even indicated that he would like an early visit.
“I will be very happy to extend the invite. If they come, it will be a great pleasure,” he said in Lahore.
However, it is unlikely that the Prime Minister will travel to Islamabad for the inauguration of the new government due to the extremely short notice, with the invite still to be delivered.
Meanwhile, the BJP appeared cautious on Manmohan Singh’s invite to Sharif. “This development should be welcomed. The spirit of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era needs to be revived as far as the Indo-Pak ties are concerned,” said former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha.
“Good news from across the border.... Nawaz Sharif is back to power.... Remembers 1999 and wishes to restore the historic bonds,” RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav had tweeted.