Putin Hug, Sharif Snub: A Look At PM Modi's SCO Moments

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin comes at a time when India is walking a tightrope in its ties with the US. Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating peace between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, coupled with US tariffs, have strained relations.

While Washington’s current administration is pulling every trick to assert itself as the world’s power center, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence and interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signal that India is asserting itself as an independent global voice—unwilling to take directions from any nation on its diplomacy.

As the US continues to scapegoat India for allegedly fuelling the Russia-Ukraine war—after Trump’s Alaska talks with Putin failed to deliver results—PM Modi was seen at the SCO Summit sharing light moments, chatting, and posing with both Putin and Xi.

Meanwhile, visuals of Modi walking with Putin in deep conversation—while Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif looked on—sent a strong message. India’s stance remains unchanged: there will be no talks or diplomacy with Pakistan until it puts an end to sponsoring terrorism.

PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged a warm hug ahead of their formal engagements and were seen walking hand in hand towards the group photo. This gesture, coming amid a series of US accusations that India is fuelling the Moscow-Kyiv conflict through its oil purchases, underscored New Delhi’s stance: India will pursue diplomacy that best serves its national interests.

While Donald Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin failed to yield any breakthrough on the Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian President used the SCO platform to hail India’s efforts toward ending the conflict.

During his bilateral meeting with China, Modi underlined that the two nations are looking to reset ties, with direct flights resuming and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage reopening. Yet, he firmly reiterated India’s stand on border security, stressing the importance of peace and tranquillity along the disputed frontier.