Leaders of BIMSTEC countries to attend Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, says sources

New Delhi: Like SAARC leaders last time, heads of government from neighbouring BIMSTEC countries are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his second term on 30 May.

As of now, there is no indication of Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan being invited.

Sources said leaders of member states of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will attend the swearing in. Member countries of BIMSTEC include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand besides India.

In 2014, when Modi won his first term, all the SAARC leaders, including the then Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif attended the swearing in as part of invitations extended to all the member countries of the south Asian grouping.

But relations with Pakistan soured mid-term and hit its nadir after the Pulwama attack in February, which was followed by India’s aerial strikes on terror camps in Balakot in Pakistan.