Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq have a brief conversation; Analysts warn against reading too much into the episode
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar shake hands at the Bangladesh Parliament in Dhaka. Photo: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefly exchanged greetings in Dhaka on Wednesday, marking the first high-level face-to-face interaction between officials of the two neighbors since their four-day military standoff in May last year.
The interaction took place on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, who died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
Both Sadiq and Jaishankar were in Dhaka to represent their respective countries in the funeral rites. While the meeting itself was brief and informal, the image of the two leaders shaking hands immediately caught attention given the prevailing freeze in relations between India and Pakistan.
The photograph was shared by the official X account of Bangladesh chief executive Dr. Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh.
“Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq exchanges greetings with India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of the funeral program of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia,” the post from Yunus’ office read.
The Indian government did not issue any statement on the interaction. However, Pakistan’s National Assembly Secretariat later confirmed the exchange in an official statement, providing more details.
According to the statement, President Ayaz Sadiq visited the Bangladesh Parliament before the funeral to record his words in the condolence book, where foreign ministers and representatives of high-level delegations from various countries were present.
“On this occasion, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar personally approached the Speaker of the National Assembly and introduced himself during a handshake,” the statement said. He added that Jaishankar commented during the brief exchange that he was “familiar with President Ayaz Sadiq’s personality”.
While diplomatic handshakes are routine at multilateral events, the symbolism of this particular interaction has generated interest due to the sharply adversarial state of relations between India and Pakistan over the past year and the hardline stance taken by New Delhi under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
Following the Pahalgam attack in April 2025 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the subsequent four-day military conflict with Pakistan in May, India announced a policy of “no public engagement” with Pakistan in any form. This approach was not limited to diplomatic channels but also extended to sporting and cultural interactions.
Shortly after the conflict, when the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams faced off during the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the Indian players, apparently following instructions from the government, avoided the customary post-match handshake. Subsequently, the Indian women’s team and youth teams followed the same model, reinforcing New Delhi’s policy of symbolic withdrawal.
In this context, the handshake between Ayaz and Jaishankar has sparked a debate over whether India might be reconsidering aspects of its public disengagement strategy or whether the interaction should be seen strictly as a matter of diplomatic courtesy at a solemn international event.
Analysts warn against overinterpreting the episode. They point out that informal interactions at funerals and multilateral meetings do not necessarily indicate a change in policy. However, they also recognize that symbolism is important in diplomacy, particularly when relationships are frozen.
The year 2025 had been challenging for Indian foreign policy, with critics arguing that New Delhi’s assertive stance had contributed to growing regional and international unrest. India’s decision to launch missile strikes following the Pahalgam attack, citing alleged Pakistani involvement, quickly led to a brief but intense military exchange.
Pakistan’s calibrated but forceful response surprised not only India but also several international observers, prompting urgent diplomatic intervention by major powers to prevent further escalation. Although the conflict lasted only four days, its political and diplomatic consequences have been significant.
For India, the confrontation exposed limitations in its crisis management and raised criticism about the risks of escalation between two nuclear-armed states. For Pakistan, the episode proved to be a turning point. Before the Pahalgam attack, Islamabad was facing diplomatic challenges and economic pressures. However, the post-conflict period saw a notable shift in Pakistan’s geostrategic position.
Pakistan’s handling of the crisis earned recognition from key international actors, including US President Donald Trump, who publicly referred to Pakistan’s response as moderate but effective. At the same time, Pakistan’s traditional associations in the Arab world experienced renewed momentum.
Within this broader context, the brief handshake in Dhaka, although lacking any substantive diplomatic engagement, has assumed enormous importance. Social media platforms in both Pakistan and India were quick to amplify the image, with reactions ranging from cautious optimism to outright skepticism.
For now, officials on both sides appear willing to downplay the meeting. However, in a region where even small gestures are closely scrutinized, the image of a handshake between senior Pakistani and Indian leaders has once again underlined how symbolism can resonate far beyond the moment itself.
