SCO Summit Dramas: Modi–Putin Stroll Leaves Shehbaz Sharif in the Shadows

A seemingly ordinary photo op at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit turned into a subtly dramatic moment when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin walked past Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif even hugging warmly while Sharif watched with a notably somber expression.

The visuals widely circulated online spoke volumes. Amid the larger picture of energy talks and regional solidarity, the sidelining of Sharif added an unexpected emotional undercurrent to the summit’s political theatre. It wasn’t just a photo; it was a statement.

This moment went viral rapidly, prompting quips and memes with lines like “Begani Shaadi mein Abdullah Deewana” being used to describe Sharif’s detached demeanor when world leaders were vying for attention and connection.

Beyond the snark, the footage underscores an unmistakable message: close camaraderie between India and Russia in front of international peers even as trade tensions simmer and diplomatic narratives evolve.

The optics were followed by substantive action. Shortly after, PM Modi and President Putin shared a ride to their bilateral meeting, with Modi later describing their chat as “always insightful” another signal of rapport contrasting the freeze-frame of Sharif on the sidelines.

At the SCO, small interactions often carry outsized meaning. And this stroll? It was a diplomatic tweet in motion.