Pakistan PMO Crops Modi From SCO Group Photo
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office has drawn attention after sharing a cropped version of the official Shanghai Cooperation Organisation group photograph that omitted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and several other leaders while placing Sharif closer to the centre of the frame.
Pakistan PMO Crops Modi From SCO Group Photo
The original photograph from the SCO summit in Bishkek showed leaders of all member states standing together, including Modi, Pezeshkian, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Sharif.
However, the version posted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office on X was cropped on both sides. Modi, Pezeshkian and three other leaders were removed, leaving Sharif appearing significantly closer to the centre.
India’s Prime Minister’s Office separately shared the complete photograph showing the entire group.
Shehbaz Sharif Later Shares Full SCO Photograph
The cropped image triggered criticism on social media, with users questioning why an official government account had removed leaders of fellow SCO member states from a formal summit photograph.
Sharif subsequently shared the complete group photograph on his personal social media account, restoring Modi, Pezeshkian and the other omitted leaders to the frame.
No official explanation was initially provided for why the Pakistan PMO used the cropped version.
Photo Row Follows Modi’s Terrorism Message
The controversy emerged as Modi used his SCO address to urge member countries to reject terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
He called for coordinated action against terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens, while warning against treating terrorism as a strategic asset.
Pakistan is set to assume the SCO presidency from Kyrgyzstan and host the organisation’s next leaders’ summit.
