Pakistan expects dialogue after Modi takes charge

Pakistan said it expects a "meaningful dialogue" with India after Narendra Modi is sworn in as prime minister Monday and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will decide Thursday whether or not to attend Modi's oath taking.

"We expect when the new government takes over... a meaningful dialogue between India and Pakistan will resume," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told the media.

She said India had invited Sharif to attend the Monday ceremony in New Delhi and the decision on it would be taken "sometime today".

She indicated that a representative may be nominated if Sharif could not go, saying this was a "normal practice" and won't breach protocol.

Earlier, diplomatic sources said a decision on attending Modi's oath taking ceremony would be taken by Sharif after consulting "stakeholders".

Sharif is among the leaders of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) invited by Modi for the event.

Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have confirmed their participation.