Pakistan PMO’s transfer to crop Prime Minister Narendra Modi out of an SCO group photograph has drawn sharp reactions in India, with politicians calling it “extraordinarily unlucky” for a PM who “can take away Islamabad from world image” if he needs to.

The X submit by Pakistan Prime Minister’s Workplace deal with of world leaders on the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek drew consideration on Tuesday because the picture, which was cropped on either side, unnoticed PM Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and several other leaders.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a bunch picture with heads of States on the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 1 September 2026,” the Pakistan PMO stated within the submit on Tuesday.
Nonetheless, just a few hours after Pakistan PMO’s submit, PM Shehbaz Sharif posted the unique {photograph} that includes all leaders, together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“In the present day, I used to be honoured to deal with the SCO Council of Heads of State Assembly in Bishkek as Pakistan assumed the SCO Chairmanship for 2027. I congratulated the Kyrgyz Republic on efficiently internet hosting the Summit and steering the Group with distinction,” Sharif stated in his submit, recalling his nation’s “immense sacrifices within the struggle towards terrorism”. Terrorism should be condemned in all its types and manifestations, he said.
‘Modi can take away Pak from map if he needs’
Reacting to the Pakistan PMO {photograph}, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde stated, “What Pakistan has achieved is extraordinarily unlucky. Pakistan has at all times tried such issues. Nonetheless, I’d say that whereas they could have eliminated Modi Ji’s {photograph}, if Modi Ji needs, he can take away Pakistan from the world image.”
Shinde additionally invoked Operation Sindoor and stated Pakistan mustn’t try and “play such video games” with India. “I’d additionally say that such an act of eradicating {a photograph} can’t erase Prime Minister Modi from the hearts of 140 crore Indians. In reality, Prime Minister Modi stays some of the widespread leaders on this planet…,” ANI information company quoted him as saying.
Former MoS MEA MJ Akbar additionally criticised Pakistan’s determination, calling it an try that had turned the nation right into a “laughing inventory” at worldwide boards.
Akbar stated, “That is how Pakistan converts itself into the laughing inventory at each worldwide convention. That censorship of the {photograph} is the peak of pomposity as a result of it’s important to have a look at it fastidiously. Not solely has our PM Modi been faraway from the image as if he wasn’t there, however the Pakistan PM has been put on the centre of the picture whereas China’s President Xi Jinping has been placed on the margin.”
He additional described the transfer as proof of what he referred to as a “very deep-seated inferiority advanced” and stated, “Such hyper-pomposity is definitely proof of a really deep-seated inferiority advanced, which is displayed again and again by the Pakistan State, and actually, it converts itself in a short time into extraordinarily irrational behaviour, into terrorism…”
Akbar added, “It’s the behaviour of a bully stricken by an inferiority advanced…Wherever Pakistan sits, turns into the underside of the desk.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday on the twenty sixth SCO Summit that the West Asia battle should be resolved via dialogue and diplomacy, urging member states to shun “double standards” whereas unitedly countering the problem of terrorism.
PM Modi’s feedback had been made earlier than a gathering that included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping of China, which has usually stymied India’s efforts to sanction Pakistani terrorists at our bodies such because the UN Safety Council.