At the SCO Summit in Tianjin, PM Modi and Putin walked past Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who looked on, as Modi, Putin, and Xi Jinping shared warm moments.
A brief but telling moment at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday has set social media buzzing. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked side by side with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders engaged in a warm conversation while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood nearby, watching silently as they passed.
The clip, widely shared online, quickly became the subject of memes and ridicule, with many users highlighting how Sharif looked sidelined at a forum where India, Russia, and China appeared to project themselves as a force to reckon with.
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Modi, Putin and Xi share a light moment
Beyond the viral clip, the summit also witnessed a symbolic show of camaraderie. Modi, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen sharing a light moment, chatting and posing together ahead of the ceremonial proceedings. Later, Modi and Putin exchanged a warm hug on the sidelines, underscoring the strong personal rapport between the two leaders.
Posting photos on X, Modi described his interaction with Putin as “always a delight,” a phrase that quickly trended in India.
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The Tianjin Summit, hosted by China as the current chair of the SCO, opened with a grand banquet on Sunday evening. In his welcome address, Xi Jinping said the organisation “bears greater responsibilities in safeguarding regional peace and stability” amid global uncertainties. He stressed that with unity, the SCO can “play an even bigger role” in shaping a multipolar order.
Founded in 2001, the SCO today includes 10 member states—India, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—alongside observers and dialogue partners, representing nearly half of the world’s population.
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India–Pakistan ties under fresh strain
While the optics in Tianjin showcased India’s growing confidence on the global stage, the backdrop of strained India–Pakistan relations loomed large. The shadow of the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, still lingers over the subcontinent. In response to the attack by Pakistan-based terror group The Resistance Front (TRF), New Delhi launched Operation Sindoor, a series of coordinated counter-terror strikes that destroyed nine terrorists camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.
The strikes marked one of the most forceful Indian military responses since Balakot in 2019, signalling zero tolerance for cross-border terror. Pakistan, meanwhile, has denied involvement but found itself diplomatically isolated as global powers largely acknowledged India’s right to self-defence.
Shehbaz Sharif’s awkward moment
Against this tense backdrop, Shehbaz Sharif’s awkward body language at the SCO Summit was interpreted by many observers as symbolic. Commentators noted how Modi’s confident stride with Putin—and his cordial exchanges with Xi—contrasted sharply with Sharif’s passive presence.
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