Islamabad: Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif's decision to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi is a step in the right direction to give peace a chance, media here said today.
By agreeing to accept India's invitation, Sharif and all those who matter have thankfully taken a huge step in what appears to be a marathon strewn with multiple, possibly perilous pitfalls.
The take-off, however, appears to be in the right direction, The Express Tribune said in an article. A final decision from Sharif came five days after India sent an official invitation on May 21, giving the Prime Minister here enough time to consult his aides, cabinet members and the Foreign Office, The News International said in its report.
The decision was taken after a meeting between Sharif's troubleshooter Shahbaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif in Lahore so that all stakeholders were on board. “Luckily, hawks like Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar were kept at arm's length,” it said.
Sharif was keen that instead of just crossing over the eastern border for a photo-op, an opportunity should be there for a bilateral meeting with the prime minister-designate to make a fresh beginning, the newspaper said.
