Shehbaz Sharif's Enthusiastic Encounter with Putin at SCO Summit Sparks Discussion

At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin became a talking point. A video from the summit shows Sharif's eagerness to meet Putin during a group photo. In the video, Putin is seen walking with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the photo session. Sharif swiftly moved from the back to greet Putin, extending his hand. Putin, after initially moving forward, turned back to shake hands. Pakistan's interest in fostering a stronger relationship with Russia has been evident, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan also pursuing closer ties. Sharif has also met with Putin and invited him to Pakistan.