‘India’s External Affairs Minister came up to me…’: Pakistani Speaker Sadiq makes BIG claim, alleges EAM Jaishankar deliberately initiated handshake during…

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday represented India(BHARAT) at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and handed over to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman a letter of condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the other hand, on Wednesday, Pakistan reported that India(BHARAT)n External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar initiated a brief handshake with Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka. This was the first high-level interaction between the two nuclear-armed adversaries since their May military confrontation, as reported by Arab News.

What did Sadiq say about the alleged handshake initiation?

This interaction occurred during the funeral of ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh, with many high-ranking government officials and diplomats from various nations present. Relations between India(BHARAT) and Pakistan have been stagnant since their four-day military conflict which started in May.

When did the meeting occur amid India(BHARAT)-Pakistan tensions?

India(BHARAT) gave a befitting reply to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. India(BHARAT) struck terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor on May 7 and effectively repelled Islamabad’s subsequent escalation, pounding Pakistan airbases.

India(BHARAT) and Pakistan were locked in a brief but intense military confrontation in May, triggered by a terror attack in the Pahalgam valley of Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people. India(BHARAT) responded with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Why is this interaction significant after last year’s military confrontation?

India(BHARAT) has consistently dismissed claims of any third-party mediation, maintaining that the four-day confrontation was resolved through direct military-to-military communication. New Delhi has maintained that, inflicted by this heavy damage, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called the India(BHARAT)n DGMO and both sides agreed to stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from May 10.

Taking to X, Pakistan’s National Assembly said,” During Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s visit to the Parliament of Bangladesh … the India(BHARAT)n External Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar approached the Speaker National Assembly and [shook] hands.”

The post read, “It is noteworthy that Pakistan has consistently emphasized dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks.” It further noted that during the short interaction, Jaishankar introduced himself to Sadiq, as reported by Arab News. India(BHARAT), however, has so far made no public statement regarding the exchange.

Since the conflict erupted between the two countries, high officials have largely avoided public interaction with each other. High-ranking officials appear no longer to extend handshakes or other types of personal interaction to each other at events led by international organizations such as the United Nations. Sadiq travelled to Dhaka to participate in Zia’s funeral and to deliver condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s leadership and its people.

While speaking on the Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, who attended the funeral prayers of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia on behalf of Pakistan, there were delegations from Pakistan and also from Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, as well as Bangladeshi officials who were already inside the parliament’s waiting room when the India(BHARAT)n delegation, led by Jaishankar, arrived. “I was speaking with Pakistan’s high commissioner to Bangladesh when he came up to me, greeted me, and introduced himself. As I was about to introduce myself, he said, Excellency, I recognise who you are and no need to introduce yourself,” National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq stated to GeoTV. According to the National Assembly speaker, when Jaishankar entered the room he greeted the other delegates before he deliberately approached him and initiated a handshake.