Hope Sharif's nod to invite will mark new start in ties: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he was glad that Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif has accepted the invitation to attend Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony as Prime Minister and hoped that this would mark a new beginning in Indo-Pak relations.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he was glad that Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif has accepted the invitation to attend Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony as Prime Minister and hoped that this would mark a new beginning in Indo-Pak relations.

"Very glad to hear Pak PM has accepted invite, shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Abdullah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be closely watching the developments.

"I hope that this will mark a new beginning in ties between our two countries. The people of J&K will be watching closely," he said.

The chief minister also opined that the Modi-Sharif handshake will overshadow the presence of other foreign dignitaries attending Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

"Can't help feel sorry for others taking oath or attending because the only photo op that will matter now will be the Modi-Sharif handshake," he said.

A spokesperson of the Pakistan prime minister office and foreign ministry today confirmed that Sharif will travel to Delhi to attend Modi's oath taking ceremony on Monday.