An informal interaction took place between National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, sources said.

According to the sources, the two leaders exchanged a handshake and brief pleasantries during condolence meetings held after the funeral prayers in Dhaka.

The interaction occurred as delegations from various countries were offering condolences to Khaleda Zia’s family, including her son and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, at the National Parliament Complex.

Funeral prayers for Khaleda Zia were offered in front of Bangladesh’s Parliament House, with thousands of mourners in attendance.

Bangladesh’s Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus also participated in the prayers.

Pakistan was represented by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, while senior officials and leaders from across South Asia attended the ceremony.

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, was later laid to rest with full state honours.

The brief Pakistan-India interaction drew attention in diplomatic circles, coming against the backdrop of strained relations between the two countries following the Pahalgam incident and a short military escalation in May this year.

Tensions had also spilled over into sports, with India’s cricket team declining to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup, a move the Board of Control for Cricket in India had described as official policy.

Despite the strained ties, Wednesday’s exchange was described by sources as cordial and informal, limited to a handshake and the exchange of polite remarks.