KEY POINTS
- The two leaders exchanged pleasantries at the residence of late former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia
- The interaction marks the first such interaction since May 2025 conflict
- Jaishankar, personally approached Saradar Ayaz Sadiq
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar briefly interacted and exchanged greetings in Dhaka on Wednesday, marking the first high-level interaction between the two countries since their military confrontation in May.
The meeting took place at the residence of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away on Tuesday, aged 80, after a prolonged illness.
Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq represented Pakistan at the funeral of the first female prime minister of the South Asian nation, which was also attended by senior regional officials and local leaders.
The funeral prayers were held in Dhaka and drew thousands of mourners, including Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
During Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq's visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh to inscribe remarks in the condolence book placed for the Late Begum Khaleda ZIa, in the presence of foreign ministers and delegates of different countries, the Indian External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar… pic.twitter.com/kBi6vnOIIC
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) December 31, 2025
The brief interaction between Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was limited to an exchange of greetings, with no formal discussions taking place.
According to a press release issued by the National Assembly, Jaishankar personally approached the Speaker of the National Assembly, introduced himself during a handshake, and noted that he was familiar with the Speaker.
The meeting marked the first interaction between the leaders of Pakistan and India since the four-day conflict in May.
According to the press release, Pakistan has consistently emphasised dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks and joint investigations into the alleged False Flag Pahalgam incident, in order to prevent unprovoked aggression and escalation.
Tensions between the two countries escalated following the killing of 26 tourists at Pahalgam in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, a claim Islamabad has strongly denied, instead calling for an independent international investigation.
The situation worsened on the night of May 6–7, when India carried out a series of missile strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties.
This was followed by retaliatory missile exchanges over the course of a week. The escalation eventually de-escalated after diplomatic intervention by the United States.
Indian External Affairs Minister & Pakistan National Assemly speaker in Dhaka. That's a pleasent change. No, matter how grave your differences may be one must not abandon normal curtisies. Hope, Indian cricket team will have no issue now shaking hands with Pakistani players! pic.twitter.com/svXEqxoAUZ
— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) December 31, 2025
Senior journalist Kamran Yousaf, reacting to the development, termed the handshake ‘a pleasant change.’ “No, matter how grave your differences may be one must not abandon normal courtesies. Hope, the Indian cricket team will have no issue now shaking hands with Pakistani players!” he said in a post on X.
BREAKING: First high-level contact between Pakistan and India since the May 2025 conflict as Indian External Affairs Minister walks to Pakistan's Speaker of the National Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh and exchanges greetings: pic.twitter.com/ehd1LnTV1E
— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) December 31, 2025
The STRATCOM Bureau posted on x that ‘high-level contact between Pakistan and India since the May 2025 conflict as Indian External Affairs Minister walks to Pakistan’s Speaker of the National Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh and exchanges greetings.’
#Pakistan's Speaker of the National Assembly @AyazSadiq122 meets #India's External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in Dhaka — Indian EAM walked to Pakistan's NA Speaker at Khaleda Zia's house and exchanged pleasantries – First high level exchange between Pakistan and India since… https://t.co/mnnJfzdhf1 pic.twitter.com/Y3NM14uHwS
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) December 31, 2025
Another Pakistani journalist, Anas Mallick, said Indian External Affairs Minister walked to Pakistan’s NA Speaker at Khaleda Zia’s house and exchanged pleasantries – First high-level exchange between Pakistan and India since the war in May this year.
The press release further said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq visited the residence of the late former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia, where he met her son, Tariq Rehman, and her daughter, and conveyed condolences on her sad demise.
He also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Parliament, the Government, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the people of Pakistan.
He noted that her services for the progress, prosperity, and welfare of the brotherly people of Bangladesh would always be remembered with respect.
Meanwhile, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq called on Professor Muhammad Yunus, Honorable Chief Advisor of Bangladesh. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to the brotherly people and Government of Bangladesh on the demise of Begum Zia.
The Chief Advisor thanked the Speaker for visiting and expressing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh at this juncture. He profoundly recalled his meetings with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and appreciated their messages of condolences.
