Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was filmed moving quickly toward Russian President Vladimir Putin after leaders posed for an official Shanghai Cooperation Organisation photograph in Bishkek on September 1. The brief, widely shared clip has been portrayed online as Sharif “chasing” Putin, but the footage alone does not establish that Putin ignored or snubbed the Pakistani leader; it shows Sharif attempting to catch up as delegates moved away from the photo area. ANI’s video characterises the moment as Sharif rushing to meet Putin and references a similar viral episode from the previous year. The encounter came during the SCO gathering in Kyrgyzstan, where Putin addressed leaders on trade, regional cooperation and the organisation’s role across Eurasia.
E-Paper
