An unusual moment involving Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin caught attention at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. A video from the event appeared to show Sharif making a quick move towards Putin just as the Russian leader was leaving the podium after the group photograph of the participating leaders.
Shehbaz Sharif Approaches Putin
Following the group photo, Putin was seen walking away from the podium when Sharif appeared to approach him. In the video, the Pakistani prime minister seemed to stop the Russian president by holding his hand, leading to a brief interaction between the two leaders. The moment quickly drew attention because it came shortly after another notable interaction involving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders were seen shaking hands during the summit, adding to the series of closely watched diplomatic moments.
World leaders at the SCO Summit including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, China’s Xi, Russia’s Putin, Belarus’ Lukashenko and Iran’s Pezeshkian, gather for a portrait.
Later, Shehbaz Sharif 🇵🇰 walks out conversing with President Putin. Building relationships anew pic.twitter.com/fU2BLnl8DH
— Samar Haroon Bilour (@SamarHBilour) September 1, 2026
Modi-Putin Meeting
The interaction between Sharif and Putin also came against the backdrop of India’s engagement with Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a bilateral meeting with Putin a day earlier on the sidelines of the summit. The discussions between the two leaders focused on strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation at a time when global geopolitical developments continue to reshape international relationships.
Modi Meets Iranian President
Modi also held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the summit. Their meeting added another important dimension to India’s diplomatic engagement at the gathering, particularly as regional connectivity, trade and security remain key issues for participating countries.
SCO Summit Brings Leaders Together
The SCO Summit brought together leaders from 10 member states, including India, China, Russia and Pakistan. The meeting is taking place amid changing geopolitical equations and growing attention on regional security, connectivity and economic cooperation. While formal meetings and agreements remain the main focus of the summit, brief interactions between world leaders often attract considerable public attention. Sharif’s short exchange with Putin became one such moment, with the video generating interest as observers followed the diplomatic developments at the summit.
Shamshad Ali is a New Delhi–based journalist with over six years of experience spanning breaking news writing, on-the-ground reporting, and editing. When he isn’t chasing headlines, Shamshad is usually exploring new destinations, discovering hidden culinary gems, and striking up conversations with strangers. Many of whom turn out to be great sources, and even better friends. He can be reached at shamshadali.dar@gmail.com.
