Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday came under fire after reports emerged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allegedly cropped out of a group photograph from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit 2026. The incident quickly drew widespread criticism online regarding the state of India-Pakistan relations.

PM Modi Cropped Out Of Group Photo

The controversy began when the official X handle of the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office posted a photo from the SCO summit in Bishkek. The image featured Sharif standing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Chinese President Xi Jinping also visible in the frame. The cropped photo appeared to tactfully place Sharif in the middle. However, the family photograph posted by PM Modi featured leaders of the 10 member countries posing together, including Sharif.

While other leaders, including PM Modi, posted the full group family photograph from their official social media handles, the Pakistan PMO seemed to do it differently. As the photo emerged online, people noticed the alleged edit and criticised the leader.

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Damage Control?

As the criticism grew, the Pakistan PM appeared to calm the fire by sharing the full photograph from his personal account almost after 3 hours. Sharing the full photo, which included PM Modi as well, Sharif wrote, “Today, I was honoured to address the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting in Bishkek as Pakistan assumed the SCO Chairmanship for 2027. I congratulated the Kyrgyz Republic on successfully hosting the Summit and steering the Organisation with distinction.”

He added that he presented a strong stand against terrorism during the roundtable discussion, while also reminding that water should not be weaponised. “Recalling Pakistan’s immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, I reiterated that terrorism must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. I also reminded the SCO family that water is the lifeblood of our region: it must never be weaponised, and binding treaties governing shared waters must be honoured in letter and spirit,” Sharif further wrote on X.

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