Pakistan crops Modi, Iran’s Pezeshkian out of SCO picture to reserve centre of frame for Shehbaz - ThePrint

**Pakistan Removes Indian and Iranian Leaders from SCO Group Photo to Spotlight Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif**

*Islamabad –* In a move that has drawn swift criticism from India and other SCO members, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office released a retouched version of a group photograph taken at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The original image showed leaders of the 14‑nation bloc standing together, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Pezeshkian positioned beside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The edited version, circulated on Pakistani official social‑media channels on June 15, cropped out both Modi and Pezeshkian, leaving Shehbaz Sharif centrally placed and surrounded only by other SCO heads.

Indian officials responded by sharing the unaltered photograph on the Ministry of External Affairs’ Twitter handle, labeling the alteration “a breach of diplomatic protocol and a disrespect to the spirit of multilateral cooperation.” The Indian foreign ministry lodged a formal protest with the SCO secretariat, urging member states to adhere to established norms of accurate representation at international gatherings. Iran’s embassy in Islamabad also expressed “concern” over the manipulation, emphasizing that any unilateral editing of official photographs could undermine the trust required for regional cooperation. The SCO’s chairperson, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, later issued a statement noting that the organization “does not condone the alteration of official documents or images” and called for “respectful engagement among all members.”

Analysts suggest the episode reflects heightened sensitivities in South Asian geopolitics, especially as Pakistan seeks to balance its strategic ties with China, the United States, and regional neighbors while navigating domestic political pressures. The decision to spotlight Shehbaz Sharif may have been driven by a desire to project a strong leadership image ahead of upcoming national elections, but the backlash highlights the limits of image management in an era of instantaneous digital scrutiny. Observers warn that such actions could erode confidence among SCO members and complicate Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, particularly with India, whose cooperation remains essential for regional stability.

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