India's Cricket Diplomacy Hopes to Revive Ties with Pakistan in 2026
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar shook hands with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on New Year's Day, marking a significant diplomatic gesture that could potentially revive strained ties between the two nations in 2026.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar extended an olive branch to Pakistan on New Year's Eve by shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at a cricket match in Dhaka, sparking hopes of reviving strained ties between the two nuclear-armed nations. The move came ahead of 2026 when India is scheduled to host the Asia Cup, and Pakistan's participation could mark a significant shift in bilateral relations. Jaishankar and Bhutto Zardari's handshake comes after years of tension following the Pulwama attack and subsequent Indian retaliatory strikes. The meeting could potentially set the stage for improved ties between India and Pakistan.
