A symbolic handshake after a year of tension
In a region where even symbolic gestures carry diplomatic weight, the handshake between India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in Dhaka was far more than a casual greeting. It marked the first high-level physical contact between the two nations since the May 2025 military conflict — a confrontation that brought South Asia dangerously close to serious escalation.
“Indian External Minister Dr S Jaishankar approached the Speaker [of the] National Assembly and shook hands,” the NA Secretariat stated in an official press release. The exchange was brief, but deliberate. “During this interaction, Dr S Jaishankar introduced himself to the speaker and told the speaker that he had recognised him [sic].”
For many observers, this quiet moment at a regional gathering for the funeral of former Bangladeshi PM Khaleda Zia could represent a subtle but significant opening in India–Pakistan relations — a dynamic long defined by mistrust, ceasefires, and missed opportunities.
Carefully planned optics or genuine signal?
Ayaz Sadiq, recounting the encounter, emphasized the clarity of Jaishankar’s intent. “He walked up to me and said hello, at which I stood up, and he introduced himself and shook hands with a smile. As I was about to introduce myself, he said, ‘Excellency, I recognise who you are and no need to introduce yourself’,” Sadiq told a private news channel.
From Sadiq’s view, this was no accidental interaction. “He knew what he was doing. He realised the presence of other people in the room, but he had a smile on his face, and he was well aware,” he added.
The move comes after a bitter year marked by war, cancelled water-sharing agreements, and diplomatic stalemates. Yet even a handshake, especially one publicly circulated via social media, was enough to stir conversation in both capitals.
Foreign policy analyst Mustafa Hyder Sayed described the moment as a much-needed step toward restoring diplomatic norms, while speaking to Al Jazeera. “I think that the interaction between Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq is a welcome development for the new year.” He continued, “I think basic normalcy of relations in which respect is accorded to officials and hands are shaken, it is the bare minimum which unfortunately was absent after the war between India and Pakistan.”
Former ambassador Sardar Masood Khan raised a deeper question: whether such a gesture could happen without strategic approval from India’s top leadership. “One can’t imagine that the Indian foreign minister would greet Pakistan’s speaker spontaneously without the explicit permission of the Indian prime minister and senior leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Whatever prompted it [the handshake] is good for the region, but there are many ifs and buts down the road,” Khan added.
Cricket diplomacy under pressure
As cricexec has reported, handshakes have been notably absent on the cricket field. From the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 to the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Under-19 Asia Cup, Indian teams consistently avoided post-match greetings with their Pakistani counterparts — a silent but blatant policy following the Pahalgam attack.
PCB Chairman and Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi (who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister) recently discussed India’s no-handshake policy, specifically as demonstrated at the U-19 Asia Cup. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, he emphasized Pakistan’s position on keeping cricket and politics apart. “Our belief remains the same even today, and believe me, the Prime Minister himself has told me twice that we shouldn’t let politics come into all of this. From day one, our stance has been that cricket and politics should remain separate. On that day, Sarfaraz must have told you what kind of attitude was shown, and what it was like.”
But with India holding firm, Naqvi clarified that Pakistan will not chase symbolism. “If they don’t want to shake hands, then we have no particular desire to do so either. Whatever happens, it will happen on an equal footing with India. And you will see, this approach will continue going forward. It’s not possible for them to do one thing and for us to back down — that simply won’t happen.”
These tensions have shadowed recent tournaments, marred by on-field spats and post-match drama. The International Cricket Council reportedly requested the BCCI to reinstate handshake protocol ahead of the youth tournament — a request India declined.
Between symbolism and strategy
Reactions within India to the handshake were more muted. Rezaul Hasan Laskar, foreign affairs editor at Hindustan Times, downplayed the encounter. “The two happened to be in the same room and did what senior leaders of two countries would do when they find themselves in such a situation. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries,” he told Al Jazeera.
Despite the gesture, Laskar offered a stark view of the road ahead. “It is hard to see the two sides coming together in any way, given the growing trust deficit.” He pointed to larger structural issues — including India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a move widely condemned by international legal bodies. “For anyone following the India-Pakistan tensions in recent years, the suspension of the IWT should not have come as a surprise.” And he warned, “This has the potential for becoming a new permanent hurdle between the two sides, especially since there are virtually no official contacts between them.”
Still, analysts say a roadmap for minimal engagement is possible. Sayed proposed a pragmatic starting point: “They can have a very basic, minimal agenda, in which they should define the rules, red lines and set guardrails. Once that is done, they can have a basic level of dialogue that is agreed upon with consent of both, and bring it to the table,” he said, while speaking to Al Jazeera.
Laskar also acknowledged changing power dynamics. “The consolidation of power by Field Marshal Asim Munir, his ability to strike a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia mutual defence pact are all factors that have implications for the region, which will be factored into New Delhi’s approach,” Laskar told Al Jazeera.
And as 2026 unfolds, those dynamics could push India toward acknowledging a new regional balance. Sayed concluded, “I think India has also understood that it cannot get away with not acknowledging Pakistan’s existence or pretending that it is not there.” In his words, “Pakistan has emerged as a very important regional player, and India is now compelled to have a bare-minimum level of engagement.”
What it means for the T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup 2026 is fast approaching, with India set to host matches — and Pakistan playing all of its matches in the co-host, Sri Lanka. All eyes are on the February 15 group stage clash between the two and speculation abounds as to whether India’s leaders may allow its team to shake the Pakistanis’ hands.
The Dhaka handshake may not signal a sweeping diplomatic breakthrough, but it could set the tone for future on-field interactions, restoring at least the formalities that have gone missing in recent years.
Whether those formalities extend to cricketing handshakes, joint press conferences, or even warm-up matches remains to be seen. But for two nations long locked in political stalemate, even a brief handshake may be the first step toward a more functional — if still fragile — coexistence.
