Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Waits 40 Minutes For Putin, Briefly Interrupts Putin-Erdogan Meeting In Turkmenistan
NEW DELHI: Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday made Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif wait for over 40 minutes before the Pakistani leader “gatecrashed” an ongoing discussion between Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkmenistan, according to RT.
An RT correspondent reported, “PM Sharif waited for over 40 minutes for President Putin before growing tired and gate-crashing Russian leader’s meeting with Erdogan. He left ten minutes later.”
The episode occurs amid Sharif’s repeated efforts to deepen Pakistan’s relationship with Moscow, even as Putin has openly demonstrated a much closer diplomatic rapport with India. The Russian president visited New Delhi last week for a prominent engagement, where his cordial interactions and private dinner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attracted considerable international attention. The imagery from Putin’s India visit has highlighted the enduring strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi, which Sharif himself has recognized in previous encounters.
During bilateral discussions with Putin in China in September 2025, Sharif sought to adopt a reconciliatory approach. He told the Russian leader, “I would like to thank you for supporting Pakistan and trying to have a balancing act in the region.”
He continued, “I know and I must say that I respect your relationship with India and it is perfectly fine, but we also want to build strong relations and these relations will be supplementary and complementary for the betterment of the region.”
Sharif’s remarks came at a time when the United States under president Donald Trump had strongly criticized both India and China for maintaining purchases of Russian oil.
The Pakistani leader also held talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping during the same visit, with Beijing reaffirming its commitment to expanding the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and enhancing the bilateral free trade agreement. Xi informed Sharif that China anticipated Pakistan would ensure improved security for Chinese personnel and projects.
Sharif subsequently backed Xi’s Global Governance Initiative at the SCO summit, describing it as important for global peace and promising Pakistan’s complete support. The same summit witnessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocating for collective global action against terrorism, stating, “Security, peace and stability are the basis of development of any country… Terrorism is not just a challenge to the security of a country but a common challenge for all of humanity.”
Friday’s brief incident, in which Sharif entered and departed Putin’s meeting within minutes, has introduced a fresh dimension to the diplomatic dynamics surrounding Pakistan’s attempts to forge closer ties with Moscow, especially as Russia’s strengthened engagement with India has been prominently visible.