Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office sparked controversy after it shared an edited group photograph from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. The edited image removed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian from the frame. The picture showed Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sharif later shared the original photograph on his personal X account. However, the initial post drew sharp criticism from Indian political leaders.
Eknath Shinde Slams Pakistan’s Move
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly criticised Pakistan’s decision to edit the SCO photograph. He described the move as unfortunate and accused Pakistan of repeatedly engaging in such behaviour. Shinde said removing PM Modi from a photograph would not diminish his position or influence. He also said Modi could remove Pakistan from the “world picture” if he wished. His remarks came after the edited image triggered a diplomatic controversy.
Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar also criticised the Pakistan PMO over the edited photograph. He said the incident had made Pakistan a subject of ridicule at an international gathering. Akbar accused Pakistan of showing an inferiority complex through the edited image. He also pointed out that the edit placed Shehbaz Sharif at the centre while moving Chinese President Xi Jinping to the side. According to Akbar, the move reflected poor diplomatic judgement.
SP Leader Calls Image Edit Cheap
Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan also condemned the Pakistan PMO’s decision. He described the move as cheap and disgraceful. Hasan said Pakistan should not lower itself by engaging in such actions at an international summit. He claimed that India had moved far ahead of Pakistan in several areas. He further accused Pakistan of focusing primarily on spreading terrorism instead of improving relations and its global standing.
The controversy over the SCO photograph quickly gained attention after the edited image appeared online. The removal of Modi and Pezeshkian from the group picture raised questions about the intent behind the post. Although Shehbaz Sharif later shared the original image, criticism from Indian leaders continued. They viewed the edit as an unnecessary diplomatic provocation. The incident has once again highlighted tensions between India and Pakistan on the international stage.