Pakistan downplays Imran Khan not being invited for Narendra Modi's inauguration, pitches for dialogue

Islamabad/Karachi: Pakistan has tried to downplay India’s decision not to invite Imran Khan for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in on Thursday, claiming that the Indian prime minister-elect’s “internal politics” do not permit him to extend an invitation to his Pakistani counterpart. The government on Monday announced in New Delhi that it has invited leaders from Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries to Modi’s inauguration, leaving out Pakistan, which is not a part of the seven-member regional grouping. [caption id=“attachment_6178691” align=“alignleft” width=“300”]  File image of Imran Khan. Reuters[/caption] The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. Reacting to reports that India has not invited Imran to Modi’s inauguration, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a meeting for the sake of dialogue to find a solution to the Kashmir issue, as well as Siachen and Sir Creek disputes, would have been a significant measure instead of attending the swearing-in ceremony. “His (Modi’s) entire focus (during the election campaign) was on Pakistan-bashing. It was unwise to expect that he can get rid of this narrative (soon),” Qureshi was quoted as saying by Dawn news. “India’s internal politics did not permit him to extend an invitation,” he said. Modi and Imran are scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan next month. In 2014, then Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif had attended Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in held on 26 May in New Delhi when the leaders of SAARC countries were invited. Speaking to Geo News on Monday, Qureshi said Modi had congratulated Imran after he won the general election last year and wrote a letter as well. Imran, breaking the ice in bilateral ties, spoke to his Indian counterpart Modi on Sunday and expressed his desire to work together for the betterment of their peoples. “Relations between the countries were based on reciprocity and PM Khan had congratulated Mr Modi as a goodwill gesture,” the Pakistani foreign minister said. “Finding a new way (to resume dialogue) is also essential for them (India). If he (Modi) wants development of this region… the only way is to sit with Pakistan to find a solution. “It is in the interest of Pakistan to defuse tensions… Pakistan did not create tension,” Qureshi said. Modi on Thursday led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a landmark victory for a second five-year term in office, winning 303 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Tensions flared up between India and Pakistan after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir’s Pulwama district on 14 February. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting the biggest JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on 26 February. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was handed over to India.