A brief, unexpected handshake in Dhaka has set off fresh debate over whether India and Pakistan could tentatively reopen channels of dialogue in 2026 after years of hostility.
On December 31, the final day of 2025, India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar publicly greeted Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly. The moment unfolded during a gathering of South Asian leaders attending the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.
According to Sadiq, Jaishankar approached him in a waiting room at Bangladesh&rsquo;s parliament, exchanged greetings, and shook hands in full view of diplomats from across the region. Recalling the encounter, Sadiq said, &ldquo;He walked up to me and said hello&hellip; and shook hands with a smile,&rdquo; adding that Jaishankar remarked, &ldquo;Excellency, I recognise who you are and no need to introduce yourself.&rdquo;
Images of the interaction were later shared by Sadiq&rsquo;s office and by Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim chief adviser, drawing wide attention online.
The gesture stood out against a backdrop of frigid ties. Only months earlier, political tensions had spilled into sport, with Indian and Pakistani cricket players avoiding customary handshakes during a regional tournament. Those scenes reflected a deeper estrangement between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Relations deteriorated sharply after a deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier in 2025, which killed 26 civilians. India blamed Pakistan, withdrew from the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, and the crisis escalated into a four-day aerial confrontation in May. Both sides claimed success before hostilities ended, leaving ties brittle and rhetoric heated.
Against that backdrop, the Dhaka handshake has been interpreted in different ways. Some observers in Pakistan described it as a welcome sign of basic diplomatic civility. One analyst called it &ldquo;a bare minimum of normalcy that had been missing,&rdquo; suggesting the gesture could hint at a modest thaw.
Others were more cautious. Indian commentators noted that senior officials often exchange pleasantries when sharing the same space, and stressed that the absence of any official Indian statement or imagery suggested no policy shift. The long-standing trust deficit, they argue, remains firmly in place.
Diplomatically, the stakes remain high. India&rsquo;s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty has become a major point of contention, with Pakistan warning of severe consequences for its water security. Some former diplomats say a return to the treaty could act as a confidence-building measure, while others see it becoming a lasting obstacle.
The regional picture is also shifting. Pakistan&rsquo;s international profile has risen over the past year, with closer ties to the United States, China, and Middle Eastern partners. US President Donald Trump has publicly praised Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership and referred to army chief Asim Munir as his &ldquo;favourite field marshal.&rdquo; India, meanwhile, has faced trade pressure from Washington and sharper scrutiny over recent conflicts.
Whether these dynamics create space for dialogue remains uncertain. Some analysts argue that even limited engagement, focused on rules, red lines, and crisis-management mechanisms, would serve the national interests of both countries. Others remain sceptical, pointing to the bitterness of recent clashes and the absence of sustained talks since 2008.
For now, the Dhaka handshake has not altered policy. But in a relationship defined by silence and suspicion, even a brief public gesture has been enough to raise a question: could 2026 see the first cautious steps toward re-engagement between South Asia&rsquo;s most enduring rivals?

Dhaka handshake sparks India-Pakistan talk buzz

A rare public gesture revives speculation of cautious engagement between rivals in 2026

Dhaka handshake sparks India-Pakistan talk buzz

A rare public gesture revives speculation of cautious engagement between rivals in 2026

January 2, 2026 | 20:14 IST