Sharif Waits Alone for Putin at Ashgabat Forum

Awkward Diplomacy: Sharif, Putin, and Erdogan in Turkmenistan

The Setting: An International Peace Forum

The incident took place in Turkmenistan during the International Peace and Trust Forum, an event marking the UN’s International Year of Peace and Trust 2025, the International Day of Neutrality, and 30 years of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was a participant. His schedule included a sideline meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was also attending the forum. Sharif also held chats with other leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s President Pezeshkian.

The Long Wait and the Surprise Entry

PM Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled to have a meeting with President Putin during the event. However, the Russian President did not arrive at the agreed time. Reports suggest that Sharif was kept waiting for an unexpectedly long time, around 40 minutes, for the Russian President to show up. Growing tired of the delay, Sharif made the unconventional decision to leave the waiting area.

Joining the Ongoing Meeting

Instead of leaving the venue altogether, Shehbaz Sharif headed directly to the room where President Putin was already engaged in a private, one-on-one meeting with Turkish President Erdogan. He reportedly forcibly entered their ongoing discussion. A video recording of this moment later circulated online. Sharif stayed in the meeting for only about 10 minutes before he was seen leaving the venue alone shortly after.

Conflicting Reactions and a Journalist Signal

There are no official accounts confirming the 40-minute delay, leading to differing interpretations of the events. While supporters of the Pakistani Prime Minister have framed his engagements at the forum, which included laying a wreath and addressing the group, as a diplomatic success, critics have labeled the incident as awkward. The situation was further highlighted when, as President Putin was leaving the venue a short while later, he was seen signaling to a journalist with his eyes.

A History of Unusual Encounters

This is not the first time a meeting between the two leaders has drawn attention for unusual reasons. An earlier incident occurred during the SCO summit in Beijing, China. While speaking with President Putin, PM Shehbaz Sharif struggled to properly wear his translation earpiece, which kept slipping out of his ear.

The Earpiece Incident

The video footage from the Beijing summit showed President Putin observing Sharif’s struggle. With a smile, Putin then lifted his own headset to demonstrate to PM Shehbaz Sharif the correct way to wear the earpiece. These repeated incidents have contributed to the perception of unusual, publicly observed moments in the diplomatic relationship between the two leaders.