National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has termed his recent handshake with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as “surprising” while briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his official visit to Bangladesh.
The interaction took place in Dhaka on the sidelines of the last rites of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia and marked a rare instance of direct engagement with an Indian minister since the military confrontation between Pakistan and India in May 2025.
Sadiq met Prime Minister Shehbaz at the National Assembly on Monday, where he gave a detailed account of his Bangladesh visit. He described the trip as “extremely constructive and positive,” saying his meetings with Bangladesh’s chief adviser, senior ministers and other officials were cordial and productive.
He added that discussions focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and enhancing bilateral relations between Islamabad and Dhaka.
The speaker also briefed the prime minister on his meetings with Khaleda Zia’s family, including her son and close relatives, noting that the interactions were warm and respectful.
Recalling the encounter with Jaishankar, Sadiq said the Indian foreign minister personally approached him, introduced himself and initiated a handshake. He described the gesture as “well-prepared and carefully planned,” adding that it was clear Jaishankar understood the optics and media attention the moment would attract.
Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated Sadiq on the successful visit and reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to deepen ties with Bangladesh across political, economic and parliamentary spheres. He stressed that sustained parliamentary engagement was vital for long-term cooperation.
The interaction in Dhaka came amid a fragile regional backdrop. In May 2025, India and Pakistan were locked in an 87-hour military conflict following an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. Pakistan denied involvement and called for an independent investigation. The confrontation ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Tensions were also visible during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, where Indian players repeatedly declined to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers, further highlighting strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
