Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has once again become the subject of intense scrutiny and trending topics on social media, this time for an alleged diplomatic misstep at an international forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. A video went viral purportedly showing Sharif “gatecrashing” a closed-door meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Ashgabat Incident
The incident took place on Friday on the sidelines of the International Forum for Peace and Trust, which commemorated the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality.
- The Wait: According to initial reports, Prime Minister Sharif, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, was scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Putin. However, the Russian President was delayed, leaving the Pakistani delegation waiting for over 40 minutes.
- The ‘Gatecrash’: Growing impatient, Sharif reportedly walked into the room where Putin was engaged in talks with President Erdogan. Sharif remained in the meeting for approximately 10 minutes before making an unceremonious exit.
- Putin-Erdogan Focus: The primary purpose of the Putin-Erdogan meeting was a detailed discussion on bilateral cooperation, including major projects like the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine and efforts towards a potential ceasefire.
Although one media source later retracted the term “gatecrash,” the widely circulated video and reports confirmed that Sharif’s entry was unplanned and came from a place of frustration over the delay.
Social Media and Google Trends
The purported video of Sharif pushing his way into the meeting quickly triggered a meme fest and widespread ridicule on social media, with many users questioning the Pakistani leader’s diplomatic approach.
This public scrutiny drove significant search traffic, making “Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif” a trending query on Google. The majority of these queries originated from Indian states such as Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Searches for “Vladimir Putin, President of Russia” also increased.
A Pattern of Diplomatic Missteps
This is not the first time Shehbaz Sharif’s international engagements have garnered unwanted attention and mockery:
- Awkward Handshake with Putin: During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in September, a video showing Sharif rushing toward President Putin for an awkward handshake became a viral meme.
- Headset Fumble: At the same SCO summit, Sharif fumbled repeatedly with a headset while meeting Putin, providing more fodder for social media trolls.
- Praise for Trump: In October, the Pakistani PM drew strong criticism after he profusely praised former US President Donald Trump at the Peace Summit in Egypt, calling him a “man of peace” and a “great president.”
Sharif, who was elected as Pakistan’s Prime Minister for a second time in 2024, is currently attempting to strengthen ties with Moscow at a time when Russia is actively bolstering its long-standing strategic partnership with India.