- The Pakistan PMO posted a cropped group photo from the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 1 September 2026, which omitted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
- Hours after the Pakistan PMO post, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted the original photograph featuring all leaders.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted the entire photograph of the heads of state on his official handle on X.
A cropped group photo shared by Pakistan's PMO from the SCO Summit has stirred controversy by omitting Indian Prime Minister Modi and Iranian President Pezeshkian. The image, posted on September 1, 2026, was criticized for its selective framing.12
Initially, the Pakistan PMO's post featured a version of the photograph that excluded key leaders, which raised eyebrows among observers. Hours later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rectified the situation by sharing the original image that included all heads of state, demonstrating a willingness to address the oversight.3
In a parallel move, Modi also took to social media, posting the complete photograph on his official handle on X, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in diplomatic representations. This incident highlights the sensitive nature of international relations and the significance of visual representation in political discourse.
The cropped image and subsequent full version have sparked discussions about the implications of such omissions in diplomatic contexts, particularly in a region where relations are often strained.
“The cropped photo was posted on 1 September 2026, the same day as the summit, and the omission drew attention before Sharif's correction. Modi's own post of the full image on X underscored the diplomatic sensitivity of the incident.”
