Jaishankar, Pakistan NA Speaker Exchange Brief Greeting at Khaleda Zia’s Funeral in Dhaka
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefly met Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka on Wednesday, marking the first interaction between senior officials of the two rival nations since their military confrontation in May 2025.
The brief exchange took place on the sidelines of the funeral ceremonies of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, held at her residence in the capital. Zia, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80, was Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister and one of its most influential political leaders. Her death was honoured with a state funeral, as flags flew at half-mast and heavy security was deployed across Dhaka.
According to officials present, Jaishankar approached Sadiq and greeted him with a handshake, which the Pakistani speaker returned warmly. The two exchanged brief pleasantries and asked about each other’s well-being. No formal discussions or diplomatic talks were reported.
The interaction comes against the backdrop of severely strained India-Pakistan relations following a four-day military conflict in May. Tensions escalated after an attack in Pehalgam in April 2025, which India blamed on Pakistan—an allegation Islamabad denied. In response, New Delhi suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and expelled Pakistani diplomats.
On May 7, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” carrying out missile strikes on multiple targets inside Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. India said the strikes targeted militant camps, while Pakistan reported civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. The conflict escalated into intense fighting involving fighter jets, missiles, artillery, and drones, before a ceasefire was announced on May 10 with US mediation.
Pakistan later claimed it had shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including Rafale aircraft, a claim India rejected, acknowledging only “some losses.”
Despite the ceasefire, diplomatic relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours remain frozen, with no meaningful dialogue underway. Wednesday’s brief and informal exchange in Dhaka highlighted the continued absence of formal engagement, even as Indian and Pakistani officials occasionally cross paths at international and regional events.
