Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office faced criticism in India after it posted a cropped photograph from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that left out Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The photograph showed several world leaders at the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. However, the version posted by the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office had been cropped on both sides, excluding Modi, Pezeshkian and some other leaders.
The development triggered sharp reactions from Indian political leaders, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde calling the move “extremely unfortunate”.
Shehbaz Sharif later posts full SCO photograph
Hours after the Pakistan PMO shared the cropped photograph, Shehbaz Sharif posted the original group picture featuring Modi and the other leaders.
In his post, Sharif referred to his address at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and noted that Pakistan would assume the SCO chairmanship for 2027.
He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan for hosting the summit and highlighted Pakistan’s “immense sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism.
Sharif said terrorism must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations.
Eknath Shinde reacts to cropped Modi photo
Reacting to the Pakistan PMO’s post, Eknath Shinde criticised the decision and said Pakistan had attempted similar moves in the past.
“While they may have removed Modi Ji’s photograph, if Modi Ji wants, he can remove Pakistan from the world picture,” Shinde said, according to ANI.
Shinde also referred to Operation Sindoor and warned Pakistan against trying to “play such games” with India.
He said removing Modi’s photograph from a group picture could not diminish his standing among Indians, adding that the prime minister remained one of the world’s most popular leaders.
MJ Akbar calls Pakistan move a ‘laughing stock’
Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar also criticised the photograph, describing Pakistan’s move as an attempt that had made the country a “laughing stock” at international forums.
Akbar questioned why Modi had been removed from the photograph while Sharif was positioned at the centre and Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared closer to the margin.
He described the move as evidence of what he called a “deep-seated inferiority complex” within the Pakistani state.
Akbar further alleged that such behaviour could contribute to what he characterised as irrational conduct by Pakistan.
What PM Modi said at SCO summit
The photograph controversy came as PM Modi addressed the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek.
Modi called for the West Asia conflict to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and urged countries to avoid “double standards” while collectively confronting terrorism.
His remarks came in the presence of Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
India and Pakistan have continued to face strained relations, while New Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns about Pakistan-based terrorism at international forums.
The latest SCO photograph controversy has added another layer to the political tensions between the two countries, even as both leaders participated in the same multilateral summit.
