Dhaka/New Delhi, Dec 31 (UNI) 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, in the first interaction between senior leaders of the two countries since Operation Sindoor.
It was the first time that senior leaders of the two countries came face to face, since the May military standoff following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Bangladesh interim government Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, shared a picture of the interaction on his X handle. “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 posted.
The meeting was a cordial exchange of greetings, without anything more needed to be read into it.
The two leaders met at the residence of Khaleda Zia.
According to Samaa, during the brief meeting, both leaders inquired about each other’s well-being and exchanged welcoming words. The conversation lasted only a few minutes.
EAM Jaishankar met BNP leader Tarique Rahman and personally handed over a letter of condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He wrote on X; “On arrival in Dhaka, met with Mr Tarique Rahman @trahmanbnp, Acting Chairman of BNP and son of former PM of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia.
“Handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister @narendramodi.
“Conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and people of India.
“Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zia’s vision and values will guide the development of our partnership.”
Separately, Bangladesh Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman met Jaishankar and Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and expressed gratitude for their presence during Bangladesh’s time of national mourning.
Jaishankar also interacted with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma and Bhutan’s Foreign Minister D. N. Dhungyel, who had also come to Dhaka to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
