DHAKA: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar briefly interacted in Dhaka on Wednesday, exchanging greetings and a handshake during an informal encounter.
Sources said the interaction occurred on the sidelines of the funeral ceremonies of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. According to officials familiar with the matter, Jaishankar approached Ayaz Sadiq in a courteous manner, and the two leaders shared brief, cordial remarks. The exchange was limited to pleasantries, and no formal or political discussions took place.
The meeting happened as prominent dignitaries from across South Asia gathered in the Bangladeshi capital to attend Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayers. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq represented Pakistan at the event, while several regional leaders, senior officials, and local figures were also present. Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus was among those who attended the prayers, which were joined by thousands of mourners.
Sources emphasized that the brief exchange marked the first interaction between representatives of Pakistan and India since tensions escalated following the May conflict. Relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors deteriorated after an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, an incident India blamed on Pakistan, a charge Islamabad strongly rejected.
Subsequent missile exchanges heightened tensions until a ceasefire was announced following US mediation.
