New Delhi: After much speculations over Imran Khan’s invitation to India for the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi and his new cabinet ministers on May 30, news agency Reuters stated that there was no invitation extended to Pakistan Prime Minister to attend the event. “India will not invite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to Thursday's swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, who starts his second term as prime minister,” two sources in the foreign ministry told the news agency. An Indian government statement on Monday said the leaders of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan - all members, with India, of the little-known Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) - have been invited to Modi's swearing-in.

The leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius have also been invited, but two sources in Indian's foreign ministry said Pakistan will not be on the list, without providing further information. In 2014, then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had joined six other South Asian leaders and the prime minister of Mauritius at the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

However, Khan was one of the early counterparts of PM Modi who took to Twitter and posted a congratulatory message after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA bagged a thumping majority in Lok Sabha Election 2019 on May 23. Khan even congratulated PM Modi in a telephonic conversation on Sunday and expressed his desire for both countries to work together for the betterment of their people.

During the call, PM Modi called for creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism for fostering peace and prosperity in the region. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it was Khan who called up Modi. “The Prime Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan for his telephone call and greetings,” it said.

It is speculated that other world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and others would be chief guests in attendance for the swearing-in ceremony that will take place on Thursday from 6 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital.