At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen engaging warmly with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin — moments that drew global attention for their diplomatic significance.

Photographs and videos from the summit showed the three leaders in animated conversation, while several others looked on. Among them was Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who appeared visibly sidelined. A widely shared video showed Sharif watching with a grim expression as Modi spoke informally with Putin just minutes before the plenary session.

In the official family photograph of world leaders, Modi was also positioned several places away from Sharif, underlining the lack of interaction between the two neighbours.

Modi later posted pictures from the summit on social media, writing: “Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit.” He also shared a separate photo with the Russian leader, adding: “Always a delight to meet President Putin!”

Backdrop of strained ties

The optics come against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed. India has blamed Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate, The Resistance Front, for the assault.

Relations remain frosty despite Islamabad’s recent outreach to Washington. Pakistan has credited US President Donald Trump for helping secure a ceasefire with India earlier this year — a claim New Delhi has rejected, saying the truce followed a direct request from Pakistan’s own military leadership.

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