Dhaka, Bangladesh – An unexpected handshake between India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on December 31, 2025, has raised questions about the potential thaw in India-Pakistan relations in 2026.
The cordial exchange took place at the Bangladesh Parliament during the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, with diplomats from South Asian countries present. According to Sadiq, Jaishankar approached him with a smile and said, “Excellency, I recognise who you are and no need to introduce yourself,” before shaking hands. Images of the interaction were shared by Sadiq’s office and posted online by Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.
The handshake, notable for its public and symbolic nature, comes at a time when both nations have maintained cautious distance, especially in diplomatic and sporting arenas. Analysts suggest that such gestures, while small, could pave the way for dialogue and confidence-building measures between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in the coming year.
