Brief exchange marks first senior-level contact since May 2025 conflict

A rare interaction between senior officials of India and Pakistan took place in Dhaka on Wednesday when Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar briefly met Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on the sidelines of the funeral ceremonies of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia.

The meeting occurred at Khaleda Zia’s residence, where world leaders and senior officials had gathered to pay their respects following her death on Tuesday at the age of 80.

Brief Exchange, No Formal Talks

According to officials present at the ceremony, Jaishankar walked over to Sadiq’s seat and greeted him with a handshake, which was returned warmly. The two exchanged brief pleasantries and inquired about each other’s well-being.

No formal discussions or diplomatic talks were reported during the brief encounter.

First Contact Since May Conflict

The interaction marked the first direct engagement between top Indian and Pakistani officials since the four-day military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May 2025.

Bilateral relations sharply deteriorated following an attack in Pahalgam in April 2025. India accused Pakistan of involvement, an allegation Islamabad strongly denied. New Delhi subsequently suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and expelled Pakistani diplomats.

Escalation and Ceasefire

On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, firing missiles at multiple locations inside Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The strikes resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. India said it was targeting militant facilities.

The situation escalated into four days of intense fighting involving fighter jets, missiles, artillery, and drones. Dozens were killed before a ceasefire was announced on May 10, brokered with the assistance of the United States.

Following the ceasefire, Pakistan stated it had shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including Rafale aircraft. India acknowledged losses but rejected Pakistan’s claims regarding the number of jets downed.

Relations Remain Frozen

Despite the cessation of hostilities, relations between the two countries have remained largely frozen, with no substantive diplomatic dialogue resumed.

Wednesday’s brief and informal exchange in Dhaka highlighted the continued lack of formal engagement, even as officials from both countries occasionally cross paths at international and regional events.