On the sidelines of the International Forum “Peace and Trust,” held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to mark the 30th anniversary of the country’s permanent neutrality, an unexpected diplomatic incident drew widespread media attention.en.iz.ru
Kabul 24: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had scheduled a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was left waiting for over 40 minutes in an adjacent room, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Videos initially shared by RT India’s X account showed Sharif appearing restless beside an empty chair marked with the Russian flag.m.economictimes.com
After the prolonged delay, Sharif and his delegation entered the room where Putin was engaged in a private meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Reports indicate Sharif stayed for approximately 10 minutes before leaving.
Some media outlets described this as an “uninvited entry” or “gatecrashing,” framing it as a diplomatic humiliation that quickly went viral, sparking memes and reactions online.dailysabah.com
RT India initially posted the videos with captions suggesting Sharif grew “tired of waiting” and entered the meeting, but hours later deleted them, stating: “The post may have been a misrepresentation of the events.”Official Russian sources, including the Kremlin, did not confirm any intentional slight, focusing instead on Putin’s successful discussions with Erdogan and other leaders.
Pakistani media reported that Sharif discussed bilateral and regional issues during the brief interaction.
The Russian Embassy in Islamabad also shared a short video of Putin and Sharif shaking hands.This episode occurred as Pakistan seeks to bolster ties with Russia in energy and trade, amid Moscow’s deepening relations with India—highlighted by Putin’s recent high-profile visit to New Delhi.
Analysts suggest the delay likely stemmed from the Putin-Erdogan meeting running overtime rather than a deliberate snub, though it underscored sensitivities in South Asian diplomacy.
The Ashgabat forum, attended by leaders from Iran, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, and others, emphasized regional peace and trust, but this minor sideshow illustrated how diplomatic protocols can swiftly become focal points of debate.
