By The South Asia Times 

Dhaka: India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq briefly met and exchanged greetings in Dhaka, marking a rare public interaction between senior officials of the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals since the escalation of tensions earlier this year.

A photograph of the two leaders shaking hands with smiles was shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser.

The image quickly went viral, triggering widespread discussion on social media, with many users initially questioning whether the interaction was real given the strained relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The brief encounter took place on the sidelines of the funeral prayers of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, where both Dr. Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq were representing their respective countries.

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense since the May conflict, during which Pakistan  shot down several Indian fighter jets, damaged air defence systems, and struck missile sites, leading to what Islamabad described as a decisive four-day confrontation.

In the aftermath, New Delhi unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting strong warnings from Pakistan that any diversion or stoppage of water flows would be considered an act of war.

Despite the hostility, the Dhaka handshake has fueled cautious optimism among sections of the public and diplomatic observers that both sides may be inching back toward engagement.

Trade between the two countries has remained suspended since April, adding to economic and political pressure on both sides.

Senior Pakistani politician and Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed welcomed the gesture, writing on X:

“Finally, diplomatic decency is back with India moving beyond its silly sulkiness, when Delhi strictly forbade its cricketers not even to shake hands with Pakistanis! Now, @DrSJaishankar even managing a faint smile: Pettiness has no place in diplomacy! 2026 can be a good starting point to begin normalisation of Pakistan–India relations!”

However, Indian controversial journalist Aditya Raj Kaul downplayed the significance of the interaction, stating on X and calling it " merely an exchange of pleasantries." 

Tensions between the two countries had further escalated following the Pahalgam attack in Indian Occupied-Kashmir, in which several people were killed. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, allegations that Islamabad strongly denied. Pakistan called for an independent and international investigation into the incident, a proposal New Delhi rejected, insisting on its own assessment.

While officials on both sides have played down the Dhaka encounter, the symbolic handshake has nonetheless reignited debate about whether diplomacy could gradually replace confrontation.

For now, the interaction remains a gesture of courtesy—but one that many hope could signal the first step toward dialogue after months of crisis.