Yunus shares pics – Firstpost

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday briefly met Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, marking the first high-level interaction between leaders of the two countries since Operation Sindoor.

Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, shared photographs of the interaction, noting that Sadiq and Jaishankar exchanged greetings in Dhaka

“Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, exchanges greetings with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Dhaka on Wednesday ahead of the funeral programme of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia,” Yunus said while sharing the photos of the brief meeting.

According to a News 18 report, citing government sources in New Delhi, there was nothing to read into the brief encounter, stressing that it did not amount to any bilateral engagement or diplomatic outreach between India and Pakistan.

The interaction took amid the presence of several international dignitaries who attended Khaleda Zia’s funeral.

Officials said such exchanges are customary at multilateral events, including state funerals, and should not be interpreted as a sign of dialogue or talks between the two neighbours.

Sources reiterated that the exchange was limited to protocol and did not involve any discussion on bilateral issues.

“This was not part of any bilateral engagement. There was no formal meeting, discussion or agenda scheduled or held between the two sides,” News 18 quoted sources as saying.

They added that Dhaka was merely a third-country venue for the event and had no role as a facilitator or mediator in any engagement between India and Pakistan.

Sources further emphasised that the brief exchange does not indicate any change in India’s position or policy towards Pakistan. India’s stance remains that normalisation of ties can only take place in an environment free of cross-border terrorism, they added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday said Bangladesh and India are looking to open a new chapter in bilateral relations following External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s brief visit to Dhaka.

In a post shared after Jaishankar departed Dhaka following a whirlwind four-hour visit, Hamidullah said the two countries would work toward strengthening ties based on shared interests, pragmatism and mutual interdependence.

As 🇮🇳Hon External Affairs Minister HE Dr @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka following a whirlwind 4-hr visit, #Bangladesh & #India would look forward to script a new chapter in 🇧🇩🇮🇳 ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence, as indeed briefly discussed with… pic.twitter.com/S5HrUApijS

— Riaz Hamidullah (@hamidullah_riaz) December 31, 2025

“As Indian Hon External Affairs Minister HE Dr @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka following a whirlwind 4-hr visit, #Bangladesh & #India would look forward to script a new chapter in 🇧🇩🇮🇳 ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence, as indeed briefly discussed with @bdbnp78 Acting Chair, @trahmanbnp, this afternoon,” said Hamidullah.

Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day to attend the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, who died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.

A towering figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape for decades, Zia served multiple terms as prime minister and was the long-time leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Representing India at the funeral, Jaishankar also handed over a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of the late former prime minister.

With inputs from agencies