Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif gatecrashes Putin-Erdogan talks after 40-minute wait
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A diplomatic incident involving Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sparked widespread ridicule on social media after he interrupted a closed-door meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkmenistan.
The disruption occurred after Shehbaz Sharif was reportedly kept waiting in a hall for 40 minutes ahead of a scheduled appointment with the Russian leader. Footage shared by RT India shows a visibly frustrated Prime Minister Sharif striding out of the waiting area and attempting to enter the room where Presidents Putin and Erdogan were engaged in private discussions.
Although security personnel flanked him, Mr Sharif managed to cross the threshold before being halted by guards. The incident, which has been described as an unscripted breach of protocol, saw the Pakistani Prime Minister exit the room abruptly after approximately ten minutes.
Further video footage captures Mr Sharif seated next to an empty chair designated for President Putin, appearing impatient alongside his delegation as they awaited the Russian leader’s arrival.
However, hours later, RT India clarified that the post might have been a misrepresentation of the events.
"We deleted an earlier post about Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif waiting to meet Vladimir Putin at the Peace and Trust Forum in Turkmenistan. The post may have been a misrepresentation of the events," RT India said in an X post.
The episode has triggered a flurry of mockery online, with social media users seizing on the diplomatic blunder. One user commented, "After 40 mins of wait, even Zomato delivery guy gives up. Sharif still didn’t," while others made scathing comparisons, with one remarking, "Beggars cannot be choosers."
Mr Sharif was in Turkmenistan to attend an international forum celebrating the 30th anniversary of the nation’s permanent neutrality, a status formally recognised by the United Nations on 12 December 1995. Despite the awkward interruption, the event’s programme proceeded as scheduled.