Pakistan Speaker Interacts with EAM Jaishankar in Dhaka, Yunus Shares Pics - What Indian Government Said?

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who represented India at the funeral of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, briefly met Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. It

was the first such encounter following Operation Sindoor. The Indian government has made it clear that nothing should be read into the exchange of greetings. At a room where senior ministers and dignitaries from neighbouring countries attending Zia's funeral converged, Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq exchanged pleasantries with Jaishankar. The photograph of the exchange was shared by the Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus's office. "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's office posted on 'X'.Jaishankar also exchanged pleasantries with other dignitaries, including the new Nepalese foreign minister, Balananda Sharma, and a few others.

What Indian Government Sources Said?

Indian government sources told Times Now that the brief interaction between Jaishankar and the Pakistani speaker was part of "routine protocol" and it must not be misread as "engagement". There was no diplomatic exchange, just a "brief exchange of pleasantries and not talks," the sources said. There is "no change in India's stand on Pakistan," they added.Nothing should be read into the exchange of greetings, news agency PTI had reported earlier in the day, citing government sources. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10, following a request from Islamabad, to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

Jaishankar Meets Rahman, Hands Over PM's Letter

EAM Jaishankar on Wednesday represented India at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and handed over to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman a letter of condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Zia, the longtime chief of BNP and a three-time prime minister, died on Tuesday in Dhaka after a prolonged illness. She was 80.

In his letter, PM Modi warmly recalled his meeting and discussions with Zia during his visit to Dhaka in June 2015, adding she was a leader of "rare resolve and conviction".In his meeting with Rahman, a front-runner for prime ministership in the February 12 parliamentary polls, Jaishankar expressed confidence that Zia's "vision and values" will guide the development of partnership between the two nations. Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh's high commissioner to India, said Jaishankar conveyed the condolences of the people and government of India over the death of Zia and recognised her contribution to democracy.