Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had a brief and cordial interaction in Dhaka on Wednesday. The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and shook hands during the encounter, according to sources. The meeting was short and remained limited to polite greetings, with no formal discussions taking place.
The interaction occurred on the sidelines of the funeral ceremonies of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Dignitaries from across South Asia had gathered in Dhaka to attend the funeral prayers. Ayaz Sadiq represented Pakistan at the event, while senior regional officials and Bangladeshi leaders were also present.
Sources said that S. Jaishankar approached Ayaz Sadiq during the ceremony and initiated the exchange. The two leaders shared brief and courteous remarks before moving on. Officials confirmed that the meeting did not involve any diplomatic agenda or policy-related talks.
Funeral prayers for Khaleda Zia were offered in Dhaka and were attended by thousands of people. Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also attended the prayers. The large turnout reflected Khaleda Zia’s prominent role in Bangladesh’s political history and her influence among the public.
The brief interaction gained attention as it marked the first contact between Pakistani and Indian representatives since the May conflict. Relations between the two countries have remained strained following the incident that triggered heightened tensions earlier this year.
The crisis began after 26 tourists were killed at a hill station in Indian-occupied Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation Islamabad has strongly denied. Pakistan has repeatedly called for an independent international investigation into the incident.
Tensions escalated further on the night of May 6 and 7 when India launched missile strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Both sides then exchanged missile fire over several days, raising concerns across the region.
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The standoff ended after diplomatic intervention by the United States. US President Donald Trump later announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a ceasefire. Since then, official engagement between the two sides has remained limited, making the brief exchange in Dhaka notable despite its informal nature.
