A brief and unexpected handshake in Dhaka has reignited discussion about whether India and Pakistan could cautiously reopen channels of dialogue in 2026. The interaction took place on December 31, 2025, on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Ziaan event that brought together political figures and diplomats from across South Asia.
India’s external affairs minister S.Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq were both present at Bangladesh’s parliament complex when the encounter occurred. According to Sadiq, Jaishankar approached him directly in a waiting area, greeted him warmly, and exchanged a handshake in full view of other regional delegations. Images of the moment were later shared by Pakistani officials and also appeared on social media accounts linked to Bangladesh’s interim administration.
The public nature of the greeting stood out because it contrasted sharply with recent symbolic snubs between the two countries. Only months earlier, Indian cricket teams had declined customary handshakes with Pakistani players during international tournaments, reflecting how political tensions had spilled into sport and other public arenas. Against that backdrop, the Dhaka handshake appeared to some observers as a deliberate, if limited, gesture.
Relations between the two nuclear armed neighbours have been under severe strain. In April 2025, an attack in Pahalgam in Indian administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians pushed ties into another crisis phase. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad denied. The situation escalated into a four day aerial confrontation in May, involving missile and drone strikes on military targets. Although both sides later declared success, the episode marked the most serious military clash between them in nearly three decades.
Since that conflict, diplomatic engagement has been minimal. India withdrew from the Indus Waters Treaty, a cornerstone agreement governing shared river systems, while both countries conducted missile tests, military exercises, and exchanged sharp public rhetoric. The ceasefire that ended the fighting was also a point of contention, with Pakistan acknowledging United States involvement and India maintaining that the halt in hostilities resulted from direct bilateral communication.
Reactions to the Dhaka handshake have been mixed. Some commentators in India viewed the exchange as unnecessary symbolism, while several voices in Pakistan interpreted it as a small but positive signal. Analysts noted that even basic courtesies had been absent since the conflict, and that restoring minimal diplomatic etiquette could be a prerequisite for any future engagement. Whether this moment represents a genuine opening or merely a fleeting gesture remains uncertain, but it has clearly prompted renewed debate about the direction of India–Pakistan relations as 2026 begins.
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