Rare diplomatic greeting occurs during funeral ceremony in Dhaka today
Dhaka became the unexpected backdrop for a rare diplomatic moment on Wednesday. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, shared a brief exchange of greetings. This interaction occurred on the sidelines of the funeral for former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away Tuesday following a long illness.
This S Jaishankar Pakistan meeting is particularly significant as it represents the first high-level contact between the two neighboring nations since Operation Sindoor. Observers noted the two leaders shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries before the official ceremony began. Photos of this encounter were shared by Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on social media, highlighting the rare courtesy shown between the two representatives.
Despite the visual impact of the handshake, government sources in New Delhi were quick to clarify the nature of the encounter. Officials described the interaction as purely informal and strictly protocol-driven. They emphasized that the exchange should not be interpreted as a formal bilateral engagement or a shift in diplomatic outreach. Sources confirmed there was no scheduled agenda, and no substantive discussions took place between Jaishankar and Sadiq.
India continues to maintain a firm stance regarding its neighbor. Officials reiterated that the normalization of ties remains dependent on an environment free of cross-border terrorism. While the S Jaishankar Pakistan meeting in Dhaka provided a moment of civility, India’s core foreign policy remains unchanged.
Jaishankar’s primary purpose for the visit was to pay respects to the late Khaleda Zia, a dominant figure in Bangladesh politics and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. During his visit, the External Affairs Minister also met with Tarique Rahman, Zia’s eldest son, to hand over a personal condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the venue was managed by the host nation, officials noted that Dhaka did not act as a formal mediator between India and Pakistan during this brief encounter.
