DHAKA: India has initiated its first high-level contact with Pakistan since the 87-hour war between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May, as two senior officials from both countries met in Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Ties were further strained after India launched what it described as retaliatory strikes on Pakistan following the killing of tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack — a charge Pakistan denies and has repeatedly called for an impartial investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the National Assembly said that Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar approached Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in the Bangladesh parliament, where officials from several nations were present, to inscribe remarks in the condolence book placed for the late Begum Khaleda Zia.
Zia, the first female prime minister of Bangladesh, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 80. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and thousands of security personnel lined the streets as her body was carried through Dhaka in a vehicle draped with the national flag.
World leaders, including Sadiq and Jaishankar, also travelled to Dhaka to attend the funeral ceremonies of the former Bangladeshi leader.
Not only did he shake hands with Sadiq, the NA said, but “Jaishankar introduced himself to the speaker and told the speaker that he had recognised him”.
“This interaction marked the first significant high-level contact initiated by the Indian side following the Pakistan-India conflict in May 2025,” the NA statement mentioned.
It recalled that Pakistan has consistently emphasised dialogue, restraint, and cooperative measures, including proposals for peace talks and joint investigations into the alleged false flag Pahalgam incident, in order to prevent unprovoked aggression and escalation.
In the May war, both sides used fighter jets, missiles, artillery and drones, which claimed lives on both sides, before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire. In the immediate aftermath of the conflict, Pakistan said it took down seven Indian fighter jets during the conflict, including the French-made Rafale. New Delhi acknowledged “some losses” during the conflict but denied losing seven jets.
Political tensions between the two neighbouring countries were also reflected on the cricket field during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, as Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
The two teams met on three occasions during the tournament, including the final, yet India’s sportsmanship remained under scrutiny throughout.
Meanwhile, NA Speaker Sadiq also visited the residence of former ex-PM Zia in Dhaka. He met with Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman and daughter, expressing deep sorrow and condolences on the passing of their mother.
Zia’s son and daughter thanked Sadiq for his condolences and for attending the funeral prayers. The speaker also met with Bangladesh’s National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman and conveyed condolences on behalf of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.
