Pakistan receives Modi\\\'s invitation, to decide soon

ISLAMABAD, May 22 (Reuters): Pakistan has received an invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the inauguration of Indian Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and will decide on Thursday whether to accept, the foreign office said.

India invited Sharif and other South Asian leaders to attend Modi's swearing-in on Monday. If he does attend, it would be a first in the history of the nuclear-armed rivals who have fought three wars since independence in 1947.

"The invitation was received yesterday," Pakistani foreign office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam told reporters. "A decision whether the prime minister would attend or not will be taken some time today."

After his own election last year, Sharif's administration had also suggested that the Indian prime minister be invited to attend the ceremony, but Modi's predecessor, Manmohan Singh, declined.

Sharif came to power promising to rebuild relations with India but he has been under pressure to toughen his stance from hardliners at home, particularly within the army.

Modi's party has long advocated a tough stance on Pakistan, a view reflected in his vigorous election campaign, and the new Indian leader is seen as an uncompromising hardliner on issues of national security.