Pakistan PMO crops PM Modi from SCO photo, triggers sharp reactions in India

The Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office sparked controversy after sharing a cropped photograph of world leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, leaving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders out of the frame.

The image, posted on the official Pakistan PMO X account on Tuesday, showed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside other SCO leaders. However, the photograph had been cropped from both sides, excluding PM Modi as well as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a group photo with heads of States at the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 1 September 2026,” the Pakistan PMO wrote while sharing the image.

The post quickly drew criticism in India, with political leaders accusing Islamabad of indulging in symbolic gestures against New Delhi.

Interestingly, only a few hours later, Shehbaz Sharif himself shared the original, uncropped photograph, which included PM Modi and the other leaders.

In his post, Sharif said he was honoured to address the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting as Pakistan assumed the organisation’s chairmanship for 2027. He congratulated Kyrgyzstan for hosting the summit and highlighted Pakistan’s “immense sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism.

“Terrorism must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations,” Sharif said.

‘Modi can remove Pakistan from world picture’

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hit out at the Pakistan PMO over the edited photograph, calling the move “extremely unfortunate”.

“What Pakistan has done is extremely unfortunate. Pakistan has always attempted such things. However, I would say that while they may have removed Modi Ji’s photograph, if Modi Ji wants, he can remove Pakistan from the world picture,” Shinde said.

He also referred to Operation Sindoor and warned Pakistan against attempting to “play such games” with India.

Shinde said removing Modi from a photograph could not diminish his standing among Indians.

“Such an act of removing a photograph cannot erase Prime Minister Modi from the hearts of 140 crore Indians,” he said, adding that Modi remains “one of the most popular leaders in the world”.

MJ Akbar calls Pakistan’s move ‘laughing stock’

Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar also criticised the Pakistan PMO, describing the photograph as an example of Islamabad turning itself into a “laughing stock” at international forums.

Akbar pointed out that PM Modi was removed from the image even though he was present at the summit, while Sharif was positioned prominently in the centre.

He also noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared on the margin of the photograph.

Calling the move “the height of pomposity”, Akbar said it reflected what he described as a “very deep-seated inferiority complex” within the Pakistani state.

He further accused Pakistan of repeatedly displaying such behaviour at international conferences, saying it could ultimately contribute to “extremely irrational behaviour”.

PM Modi calls for diplomacy, united fight against terrorism

The controversy unfolded on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict in West Asia.

PM Modi also urged SCO member states to reject “double standards” and work together to counter terrorism in all its forms.

His remarks came in the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping. India has repeatedly raised concerns over Pakistan-based terrorists at international forums, including the United Nations Security Council, where China has at times opposed or delayed efforts to designate individuals linked to terrorism.

The episode over the group photograph adds another layer to the already tense India-Pakistan relationship, even as both countries remain part of the same multilateral SCO platform.