Terror outfits oppose Sharif's decision to accept Modi's invite

New Delhi: Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's invitation to Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif to attend his oath-taking ceremony and his acceptance has got varied reactions ranging from caution to commendation. Pakistan's jihadis and religious hardliners are up in arms over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's decision to accept Narendra Modi's invitation to attend his swearing-in ceremony, with Lashkar-e-Tayyeba founder Hafiz Saeed linking the visit to the Kashmir dispute and describing it as a move to appease India. Even before Pakistan's Foreign Office announced Sharif's decision to go ahead with the visit after prolonged discussions with political parties and the powerful military, Saeed told a gathering of extremist groups in Lahore: "Listen Nawaz Sharif sahab, if you go, what answer will you give to the Kashmiris?" On Saturday, Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks, went a step further and asked Sharif to review his decision. "Instead of appeasing India, Nawaz Sharif should represent nation's aspiration by reviewing his decision to visit Modi's oath-taking ceremony," he tweeted. Addressing the gathering of hardline groups in Lahore, Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch warned Sharif against any hasty step and said: "These Hindus are not anyone's friends." Sharif set aside pressure from jihadis and the army when he decided to attend Modi's swearingin ceremony on May 26. The Pakistan government took three days to respond to the invitation issued on Wednesday - an indication of the pressures associated with the issue. "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be flying to India on May 26 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. Both leaders will meet on May 27 to discuss bilateral issues," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said. Sharif has spoken of a "new beginning" with India since he was elected as PM for a third term last year and insiders said it was his daughter Maryam Nawaz who pushed him to accept Modi's invitation. "I personally think cordial relations with new Indian govt should be cultivated. Will help remove psychological barriers, fear & misgivings (sic)," she tweeted.

But Sharif's attempts to reach out to India have not gone down well with the Pakistan military, which still calls the shots in deciding foreign policy, especially relations with India. The army has also been angered by Sharif's decision to put former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason. Sharif's younger brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, met Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif in Lahore on Friday and took him into confidence about the decision to attend Modi's swearing-in. Shahbaz told the general about the importance of the visit for maintaining good relations with India and for regional peace. The decision to visit India is also sensitive as Sharif's government is engaged in a faceoff with the military over the Geo TV network's allegation that the ISI was involved in an attempt on the life of popular anchor Hamid Mir. The government has sided with the media group, annoying security agencies. There was no reaction from the Pakistan Army to Sharif's decision, but sources said the high command didn't appreciate the move. The premier will be accompanied by a high-power delegation that includes Sartaj Aziz, his advisor of foreign policy, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry - an indication that Pakistan wants to take up substantive issues at the meeting with Modi.

Lashkar-e-Tayyeba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed Hafiz Saeed continues to move freely across Pakistan and spew hatred against India and the US despite a $ 10 million bounty announced for him by the American administration in 2012. On hearing that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had accepted the invitation to participate in Narendra Modi's swearing-in, Saeed said: "If you visit India to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony, how will you be answerable to the Kashmiris?" Though the UN Security Council declared Saeed's Jamaat- ud- Dawah a front for the LeT for its role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the group has not been banned by Pakistan. The government of Pakistan's Punjab province, ruled by Sharif's PML-N party, has even allocated funds in its annual budget for JuD's main centre. Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin Syed Salahuddin has personally participated in recruitment and fund-raising activities in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi in recent years. Though no longer as powerful as he was about a decade ago, he continues to control both the Hizb and the United Jihad Council, a grouping of militant organisations with deep roots in Kashmir. While continuing to oppose the normalisation of ties with India, Salahuddin would play a key role in effort by the Pakistani military to revive militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.