Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. Shehbaz Sharif tweeted, “Felicitations to @narendramodi on taking oath as the Prime Minister of India.”
In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Shehbaz Sharif on Twitter, saying, “Thank you @cmshehbaz for your good wishes.” Shehbaz Sharif was not among those invited to the swearing-in ceremony held in New Delhi.
Nawaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), also congratulated Prime Minister Modi on Twitter. He referred to Modi as ‘Modi Ji’ and emphasized working together for the betterment of South Asia.
Nawaz Sharif tweeted, “My warm felicitations to Modi Ji (@narendramodi) on assuming office for the third time. Your party’s success in recent elections reflects the confidence of the people in your leadership. Let us replace hate with hope and seize the opportunity to shape the destiny of the two billion people of South Asia.”
During Modi’s first term in 2015, he surprised many by visiting Lahore on Nawaz Sharif’s 66th birthday when Nawaz Sharif was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Earlier this year, Modi discussed this visit during a surprise lunch meeting with eight MPs in Parliament.
Photos later emerged showing Nawaz Sharif wearing a pink turban gifted to him by Modi during the wedding of Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter, Mehrun Nisa, an event Modi also attended.
Top leaders from India’s neighboring countries and the Indian Ocean region attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. These included Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Other attendees were Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that inviting leaders from these seven countries was in line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision.
Modi took the oath for his third term after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 out of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
