Modi's invite to Sharif surprises many

After running on an election campaign in which he frequently chided the previous Congress-led administration on being soft on cross-border aggression by Pakistan, Modi's gesture was surprising but widely welcomed.

Political leaders in Kashmir especially welcomed the move as Mehbooba Mufti of the People's Democratic Party said, "It's good omen to invite the Pakistani PM on Modi's swearing-in ceremony."

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "Excellent move by @narendramodi to invite SAARC leaders, especially Pak PM for his swearing in. Hope this is beginning of sustained talks (sic)."

However, the Congress ally, in a subsequent tweet added, "At the same time I can't help wonder what BJP would have said if a PM designate Rahul Gandhi had done the same thing."

During the run up to the polls, that ended in the BJP winning the widest majority in over 30 years, Modi had attacked the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for what he called a "stagnated" and "weak" foreign policy.

"The heads of our soldiers are cut but then their Prime Minister is fed chicken biryani," he said in a speech, referring to the beheading of an Indian jawan at the border last year.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley however reasoned that Modi's diplomatic move was only a natural demonstration of Modi's firm and confident foreign policy.

"This is to signal to our neighbours that the new government wants direct and peaceful relations," he told a television news channel.

Pakistan meanwhile hailed Modi's invitation to South Asian leaders, including its Prime Minister Sharif, to the ceremony in New Delhi on May 26 as a "bold move."

Speaking to Indian news network NDTV, Tariq Azim, the media advisor to Sharif's party the Pakistan Muslim League (N) said, "It's a bold and an unexpected move."

However he added that Sharif "does not share the anxiety that is felt by some quarters here in Pakistan because he has got some very fond memories of the previous BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee coming to Lahore and he hopes that this anxiety about Modi and his past will fade away."

While there is no official word yet from Pakistan on whether Sharif will attend Monday's ceremony, a decision is expected on Thursday and some reports suggested that there is the possibility that he might acquiesces.

Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai has already confirmed he will attend as has Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is traveling to Japan but she is likely to send the country's Speaker and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen could attend too, media reports said.

Meanwhile reports in India said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J Jayalalithaa is likely to skip Modi's oath-taking ceremony.

AIADMK sources said Jayalalithaa took the decision a day after Modi invited Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to his swearing-in.

BJP's southern ally MDMK's Vaiko too has opposed the invitation to the Sri Lanka President.

The MDMK and many other Tamil political parties allege that human rights violations against Tamils and civilian casualties in Lanka peaked during the last leg of the war against LTTE with Rajapaksa in charge.

However, with the BJP forming the government with the confidence of owning complete majority, these tussles were unlikely to affect Modi's decision, political analysts said.