TIANJIN, China – A brief but significant moment at the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit has once again put Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. During the ceremony, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen walking and chatting together, while Sharif stood nearby, as if relegated to the side.
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, quickly went viral on social media, with many netizens drawing attention to Sharif’s repeated awkwardness at international gatherings. The clip reminded viewers of his past mistakes on the world stage, which again led to criticism of him in his country.
Modi and Putin have a warm conversation
The viral video shows Prime Minister Modi and President Putin walking together, having an informal conversation and then sharing a warm hug. The cordiality between the two leaders was a sharp contrast to Sharif’s stoic presence at a distance.
Observers say the scene reflects Pakistan’s limited influence in the SCO, where major members such as China, Russia and India dominate both the agenda and the headlines.
The SCO summit officially kicked off on Sunday with a gala banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended by 20 foreign leaders and heads of 10 international organisations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Xi Jinping calls for unity
In his keynote speech, President Xi Jinping emphasised the SCO’s growing responsibilities in an era of global instability. He highlighted the SCO’s role in promoting peace, sustainable development and South-South cooperation.
“The SCO will continue to play a constructive role in advancing the progress of human civilisation,” Xi said, and expressed confidence that the summit will produce concrete results.
Established in 2001, the SCO has now grown to a 26-member group comprising 10 full members, two observer countries and 14 dialogue partners, representing nearly half of the world’s population and one-quarter of global GDP.
Sharif’s history of awkward public moments
However, this was not the first time for Shehbaz Sharif that his appearance on an international platform became a topic of discussion.
- In 2022, at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, Sharif went viral after he struggled with his translation headset while seated next to Putin. His remark, captured on camera, “Can someone help me?”, led to laughter in the room and mockery online.
- In June 2023, at the Global Financing Pact summit in Paris, a clip showed him taking an umbrella from a female staffer and leaving her in the rain – leading to widespread criticism of him for his lack of manners.
- Earlier this year, he mistakenly congratulated Donald Trump on “returning to the White House” even though Trump was not in office. The post raised eyebrows around the world as it was deemed misleading.
- Sharif also faced embarrassment after he tweeted a doctored picture of a Chinese PHL-03 rocket launcher, mistakenly describing it as a diplomatic gift.
These repeated mistakes have raised persistent questions about Pakistan’s diplomatic standing and the preparedness of its leadership at important international forums.
Modi holds talks with Xi Jinping
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Though official details of the meeting are limited, sources say the focus was on stabilising India-China relations amid the ongoing border tensions.
The meeting further strengthened India’s presence at the summit, further cementing Modi’s reputation as a major global power.
Reactions on social media
Unsurprisingly, Sharif’s moment at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) became a trending topic online. Indian users highlighted Modi’s growing influence on the world stage, while Pakistani critics lamented the prime minister’s repeated diplomatic blunders.
“Another day, another awkward moment for Shehbaz Sharif,” posted one user. “Modi walks with Putin, Sharif waits for someone to notice him,” joked another.
The SCO summit was meant to showcase unity and cooperation among member states, but for Pakistan, it once again exposed the weaknesses of its leadership. While Modi and Putin displayed cordiality and Xi Jinping called for regional solidarity, Sharif’s silent presence made unexpected headlines.
With global competition intensifying, the impact of such moments has become more important than ever—raising a crucial question: Will Pakistan’s leadership be able to overcome these awkward episodes and make its presence felt on the world stage?