Isolated Pakistan PM Caught Alone, PM Modi and President Putin Travel Together for Bilateral Meeting
Tianjin (The Uttam Hindu): A notable moment in international diplomacy was witnessed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a car to travel together for a bilateral meeting following the summit’s conclusion.
PM Modi shared a photo from the occasion on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“After the SCO Summit, President Putin and I traveled together to the venue for our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.”
The gesture reflected the deepening strategic partnership between India and Russia, with the friendly interaction between the two leaders sending a strong message about the strength of their relationship.
Earlier in the day, images surfaced showing PM Modi, President Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping sharing a light moment during an informal conversation. The leaders were seen smiling and walking together during the SCO "family photo" session, evoking comparisons to similar scenes from the BRICS Summit held in Kazan.
In one widely shared photo, Putin walks on the left, Modi in the center, and Xi on the right, capturing a symbolic image of major Asian powers together. PM Modi captioned the image:
“Engaging conversations continue in Tianjin. Exchanged views with Presidents Putin and Xi during the SCO Summit.”
Another photo shared by the Indian Prime Minister shows him shaking hands and embracing President Putin, further showcasing the personal rapport between the two leaders. Modi remarked:
“It’s always a pleasure meeting President Putin.”
In an interesting visual from the photo session, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen standing alone as Modi and Putin walked past engaged in informal conversation. Sharif appeared isolated and somber during the gathering of the SCO leaders — a moment that has gained traction on social media.
The summit highlighted both diplomatic warmth and regional divides, with India continuing to engage assertively on the world stage while maintaining key bilateral relations, particularly with Russia and China, despite complex geopolitical challenges.