Ayaz briefs PM about ‘surprising’ handshake with Jaishankar

ISLAMABAD: In a candid briefing to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his recent visit to Dhaka, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday described his recent handshake with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as “surprising.”

The encounter, which occurred in Dhaka ahead of the final rites of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, marked a rare instance of direct contact between a Pakistani official and an Indian minister since the 2025 conflict between the two nations.

During his meeting with PM Sharif at the National Assembly, Sadiq described his visit to Bangladesh as “extremely constructive and positive,” highlighting productive discussions with senior Bangladeshi officials, including the chief adviser and various ministers.

READ MORE: Ayaz Sadiq, Jaishankar exchange handshake at Khaleda Zia’s funeral

Sadiq also briefed Sharif on his interactions with Khaleda Zia’s family, noting the “cordial” nature of his meetings with the late leader’s son and other relatives.

However, the most striking moment of his trip, according to Sadiq, came when Jaishankar approached him personally, introduced himself, and initiated a handshake. Sadiq described the gesture as “well-prepared and carefully planned,” suggesting it was intended to attract media attention.

“He knew exactly what he was doing and that it would be covered by the media,” Sadiq said in a separate conversation about the encounter.

The handshake marks the first high-level contact between India and Pakistan since the 4-day conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May 2025.

Two senior officials from both countries met in Bangladesh last week in a development seen as a potential thaw in bilateral relations.

PM Sharif congratulated Sadiq on the success of his visit and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing bilateral ties, underscoring the importance of fostering parliamentary links with Bangladesh for long-term cooperation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026