Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Indian FM Jaishankar Hold Surprise Meeting in Dhaka After Conflict

In a major breakthrough, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday at the residence of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia.

According to sources, the National Assembly speaker and the Indian external affairs minister shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Zia, who was the first woman to hold the office of prime minister in Bangladesh, died on Tuesday at 80. Her body was transported through Dhaka in a vehicle covered with the national flag, flags were lowered to half-mast, and thousands of security personnel lined the streets.

World leaders, such as Sadiq and Jaishankar, also journeyed to Dhaka to participate in the funeral ceremonies of the former Bangladeshi leader.

The meeting represents the first such interaction since May 2025, when Pakistan and India engaged in a brief but intense war. It occurs months after the Pahalgam incident, which sparked cross-border clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The clash between India and Pakistan originated from an assault on Hindu tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which New Delhi claimed, without proof, was supported by Pakistan. Pakistan has rejected any involvement, with the foreign ministry questioning the credibility of India’s version of events, describing it as “replete with fabrications”.

In the course of the four-day conflict, which resulted in dozens of deaths, both parties employed fighter jets, missiles, artillery, and drones. They subsequently consented to a ceasefire mediated by the US. Shortly after the conflict, Pakistan claimed to have shot down seven Indian fighter jets during the conflict, including the French-made Rafale. During the conflict, New Delhi recognized “some losses” but refuted the claim of having lost seven jets.

During the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, the political tensions between the two neighboring countries were mirrored on the cricket field, with Indian players reportedly declining to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.

Throughout the tournament, including the final where the two teams met three times, India’s sportsmanship was consistently under scrutiny.

The saga commenced with a confrontation in the group stage, progressed through the Super Four, and reached its climax in the final. There, India triumphed over Pakistan but opted not to personally receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the PCB Chairman and the head of the Asian Cricket Council.

Similar handshake controversies occurred in the Women’s World Cup match between the two teams, the Hong Kong Super Sixes, and various other ACC events, including junior tournaments where teams also bypassed customary greetings.