Shehbaz Sharif Gate-Crashing Putin-Erdogan Meeting Exposes Pakistan's Diplomatic Insecurity: Sources

Last Updated:December 12, 2025, 22:58 IST

Shehbaz Sharif's unexpected entry into a closed-door meeting between Putin and Erdogan in Turkmenistan caused a major diplomatic embarrassment for Pakistan.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Image: Andrew Harnik/GETTY IMAGES/AFP)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday gate-crashed a crucial meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after waiting for 40 minutes, a move widely seen as a major protocol embarrassment for Islamabad.

During an event held in Turkmenistan in honour of the 30th anniversary of the former Soviet nation’s declaration of neutrality, a viral video showed Sharif waiting impatiently in an adjacent room, ahead of scheduled talks with Putin.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Gate-Crashes Putin–Erdogan Meeting After Waiting For 40 Minutes | Watch

After waiting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for nearly 40 minutes, Sharif decided to gate-crash the venue where Putin was holding talks with Erdogan for a quick interaction. Footage showed Russian and Turkish aides visibly surprised by Sharif’s sudden entry.

Putin’s body language reflected discomfort as his bilateral agenda was interrupted by Sharif. Top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that the Pakistan PM’s unexpected entry into the closed-door meeting showed Pakistan’s increasing diplomatic insecurity.

Shehbaz Sharif is desperately seeking visibility amid several domestic crises, while the Pakistani establishment is firmly controlled by Army Chief Asim Munir. His sudden entry into a pre-scheduled and highly sensitive meeting between Putin and Erdoğan surprised protocol officials and caused a major embarrassment for Pakistan, as per sources

Putin’s unwelcome reaction also showed that the Pakistani Prime Minister was not on the approved list in the room. This episode displayed a clear sign of Pakistan’s diminishing geopolitical clout, as it is struggling to secure meaningful engagements with major powers.

Meanwhile, the event marked a milestone for Turkmenistan, the country with the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves. Turkmenistan declared itself officially neutral in 1995 under its first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, who spurned both Western and Russian influence.

News world Shehbaz Sharif Gate-Crashing Putin-Erdogan Meeting Exposes Pakistan's Diplomatic Insecurity: Sources

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