Beijing (SCO Summit):
During a bilateral meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on 3 September 2025, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif struggled with his translation headset while seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The headset repeatedly slipped off Sharif’s ears, prompting a bemused Putin to smile and demonstrate how to wear it correctly. The light moment stood out in the otherwise serious diplomatic exchange.
A repeat scene
This is not the first time Sharif has faced such a glitch in front of Putin. In 2022, at another SCO Summit in Uzbekistan, he experienced a similar headset slip that went viral on social media. The recurrence, with the same headset issue and Putin’s polite assistance, has drawn renewed attention and commentary.
Social media reaction
The video of the incident quickly spread online, sparking memes and light-hearted banter. Many users described the moment as awkward yet humorous, while others linked it to Pakistan’s larger diplomatic challenges. The incident highlighted how even minor slips in body language or protocol can resonate widely in the digital age.
Conclusion
A small technical error turned into a viral moment, capturing international attention. Putin’s patient guidance offered a rare glimpse of levity in global diplomacy, showing how human gestures can sometimes overshadow political conversations.