A brief, courteous handshake between India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and the Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, in Dhaka has been amplified by Pakistani authorities. The exchange occurred on the sidelines of the funeral for former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, which both dignitaries attended.
The Context of a Tense Relationship
This minor interaction stands out as one of the few visible senior-level contacts between the two nations in recent months. Relations between India and Pakistan have been under severe strain since earlier this year, following the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
In response to the attack, India implemented a series of calibrated diplomatic and strategic measures. The Indian government scaled down diplomatic engagement, firmly stating that dialogue cannot coexist with terrorism. A significant step was the suspension of India's participation in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the landmark 1960 water-sharing agreement. India also restricted cross-border transit and other bilateral engagements, demanding verifiable action against terrorism and accountability for attacks on civilians.
Pakistan's Narrative and India's Military Response
According to a report in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, the country's National Assembly Secretariat issued a press release detailing the handshake. The release claimed that Jaishankar approached Sadiq during the event. It further stated that since the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has "consistently emphasised dialogue, restraint and cooperative measures," including proposals for peace talks.
Against this backdrop of continued tension and Pakistan's alleged inaction on terror, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. The operation involved precision strikes by the Indian Armed Forces targeting terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). India successfully repelled subsequent Pakistani escalation, which included targeting Indian airbases.
India's Unwavering Stance on Engagement
India has maintained a consistent and clear position regarding any future engagement with Pakistan. New Delhi insists that any dialogue must be based on mutual respect, verifiable security assurances, and a terrorism-free environment. The country remains firmly committed to safeguarding its national interests and security above all else.
The brief handshake in Dhaka, therefore, remains a diplomatic courtesy rather than a sign of thawing relations. For meaningful progress, India expects demonstrable and irreversible action from Pakistan against terrorist infrastructure and groups operating from its soil.
