During a significant international forum in Turkmenistan, celebrating the 30th anniversary of its permanent neutrality status recognized by the UN, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif experienced a highly unusual diplomatic moment. A scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was significantly delayed.
After waiting for approximately 40 minutes with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Sharif reportedly walked into a private, closed-door meeting between President Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This unplanned entry was captured on video and has since gone viral.
The Prime Minister’s aim was likely to engage with President Putin, given the extended wait. His presence in the ongoing bilateral talks between the two leaders lasted for about ten minutes before he departed.
Footage also depicted Sharif and his delegation appearing visibly frustrated during their lengthy wait for President Putin, with one clip showing him seated beside a Russian flag-adorned empty chair. The incident sparked a flurry of commentary and online debate regarding diplomatic protocol.
The central theme of the Turkmenistan summit was the nation’s established policy of permanent neutrality, a status reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly. This policy emphasizes non-involvement in military alliances and conflicts.
While Sharif’s brief, unannounced entry into the high-level discussion between Putin and Erdoğan became a talking point and drew widespread online reactions, the summit’s agenda focused on Turkmenistan’s neutral foreign policy continued as intended.