Sadiq says Jaishankar initiated Dhaka handshake after May conflict

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has shared details of a brief but closely watched exchange with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in Dhaka, saying the Indian minister deliberately initiated the contact.

Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Sath,” Sadiq said he attended the funeral prayer of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia as part of Pakistan’s delegation. He described a waiting room inside Bangladesh’s parliament where delegations from Pakistan and several other countries were already present when the Indian delegation entered.

According to Sadiq, Jaishankar greeted other delegations and then intentionally approached him for a handshake. Sadiq said he was talking to Pakistan’s high commissioner to Bangladesh when Jaishankar came over, greeted him, and introduced himself. Sadiq added that when he began to introduce himself in return, Jaishankar stopped him, saying he already knew who he was.

Sadiq said the moment drew attention in the room, with many observers focused on how he would respond. He described the interaction as one that Jaishankar understood would be widely reported.

Sadiq also spoke about what he called an unusually warm public reception during his visit to Bangladesh. He said people chanted pro-Pakistan slogans such as “Pakistan Zindabad” and “I Love Pakistan.”

He recalled that a Pakistani flag displayed on his vehicle prompted people along the route to wave when they recognized it. Despite security advice not to lower the window, Sadiq said he briefly did so, after which people moved closer with cameras and tried to greet and shake hands, even if they did not know him personally, because they understood he was representing Pakistan.

He said police repeatedly pushed crowds back, but they kept returning, and he described the overall reception as notably enthusiastic throughout the visit.