With the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit currently underway in China, a moment from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's interaction
with Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone viral. In the video, Sharif can be seen running to greet the Russian president after a formal photo session. This reminded many of the awkward moment the Pakistan PM had shared with the Russian President at the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan in 2022. Just as his bilateral meeting with Putin was about to begin, Sharif was seen struggling to adjust his translation headphones. The moment, captured on video by Russia's Sputnik, quickly made the rounds online. In the clip, Sharif could be seen fumbling as the device kept slipping off his ear. Despite the assistance of aides, the problem persisted long enough to delay the conversation. Putin was even caught letting out a brief laugh as Sharif, visibly flustered, asked aloud, "Can somebody help me?"
Back at home, the Pakistani opposition had tweeted the clip, calling it an "embarrassment" for the country. The goof-up had even made it to American talk show host Jimmy Fallon's show.
During a segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the comedian made fun of the incident and quipped, "The surprising thing is that Shehbaz Sharif is the prime minister of the 220 million population of the world."
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Sharif's sprint to Putin goes viral
In the viral clip from the SCO Summit this year, Shehbaz Sharif is seen approaching Vladimir Putin from behind as he walks alongside Xi Jinping. The Pakistan PM suddenly extends a handshake to Putin.
"While other leaders showed composure, Pakistan PM Shehabaz Sharif came running to Putin to shake his hand…. Pathetic attention-seeking behaviour. Xi Jinping realised what Shehbaz was going to do, so he looked the other way and ignored him," wrote a social media user on X, sharing a small clip.
Prominent global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others, are attending the 25th SCO meeting in Tianjin this year.
