On December 31 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Jaishankar met with the Speaker of the Pakistani Parliament, Ayaz Sadiq. Their handshake became a viral sensation across both nations. Ayaz Sadiq has now shared his thoughts on this encounter.
Ayaz Sadiq, a prominent leader of Pakistan's ruling party, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), and Speaker of the Pakistani Parliament, recounted, 'He (Jaishankar) walked up to me and greeted me with a hello. He extended his hand to shake with a smile. As I began to introduce myself, he interrupted, saying, 'I know who you are, there's no need for introductions.'
Sadiq detailed that as soon as Jaishankar entered the meeting room, he first met with delegations from Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, before coming to him. Jaishankar was entirely aware of his surroundings. The room was filled with people, yet Jaishankar confidently navigated it with a smile, fully aware of his actions.
Photos of the handshake between Jaishankar and Sadiq were originally shared by Sadiq’s office and later reposted on Muhammad Younus's X platform.
The meeting between Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Foreign Minister Jaishankar on Wednesday in Dhaka served as a momentous instance of diplomatic engagement. Jaishankar was in Dhaka to pay his respects at the funeral of Bangladesh's late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, where he met Ayaz.
In April last year, India-Pakistan relations plunged to new lows following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 26 Indians. Blame was laid on Pakistan by India, exacerbating tensions. Amid rising hostilities, India launched Operation Sindoor at midnight on May 7 to target terrorist militants and camps within Pakistan and POK. Pakistan retaliated, but India successfully thwarted the response using its air defense systems. After four days of clashes, a ceasefire was eventually observed, but underlying tensions remain unresolved.
