Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin on Saturday confirmed that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Monday evening.
"Can confirm that we have received communication that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has accepted invitation of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi," Syed Akbaruddin said.
"All eight leaders of countries we invited for Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony have confirmed their participation," he added.
When asked if there could be any meetings between the Sharif and Modi, the official MEA spokesperson obliquely hinted, saying: "When senior leaders come we do make arrangements for short courtesy meetings."
Sharif has accepted India's invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi on Monday evening.
Television channels had earlier quoted Sharif's media advisor Tariq Azim, as saying that Sharif will fly to New Delhi for the event.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaz Aziz is also expected to accompany him.
Sharif will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Delhi and hold bilateral talks with Modi on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony, according to Pakistan Government sources.
India has invited leaders of all South Asian countries, including Nawaz Sharif to Modi's oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 26.
The swearing-in ceremony, to be held at the forecourt of the historic Rashtrapati Bhavan, is likely to be attended by as many as 3,000 guests, the report added.
