Ankara. Pakistan’s diplomacy suffered a setback during an international event organized in Turkmenistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Putin did not come to meet him. Putin was meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at that time, due to which Shahbaz had to wait for about 40 minutes. After a long wait, Shahbaz suddenly entered the meeting of Putin and Erdogan, breaking the set protocol. During this time both the heads of state were busy in talks and the atmosphere became uncomfortable due to the presence of Shahbaz.
The entire incident took place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality. In the video that went viral, it can be seen that Shehbaz Sharif was feeling uneasy while sitting in a separate room with his Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. When the scheduled time passed and the call did not come, Shahbaz suddenly went to the hall where Putin and Erdogan were talking face to face. Shahbaz’s sudden entry shocked Russian and Turkish officials. It is clear in the video that Putin looked uncomfortable in the conversation and Shahbaz sat near him on a single sofa. This shows that this meeting was not scheduled in advance for Shahbaz’s presence and protocol was violated.
According to sources, this incident highlights Pakistan’s growing diplomatic uneasiness. Shehbaz Sharif is facing many serious crises in the country, while the real power lies with Army Chief General Asim Munir. In such a situation, in an effort to maintain presence on the international stage, this step is being considered a major lapse of protocol. Intelligence sources say that this meeting between Putin and Erdogan was pre-planned and sensitive. The uninvited entry of a third leader was not only uncomfortable, but it also raised questions on Pakistan’s diplomatic position. This incident is being linked to Pakistan’s declining international status. Shahbaz had to wait for a long time and then enter the meeting himself, an indication that Islamabad is now feeling pressure to maintain its relevance on the global stage. This entire episode has made it clear that Pakistan is now facing difficulties in establishing formal and effective dialogue with influential global leaders. This action of Shehbaz raises concerns about the country’s diplomatic position at the international level and exposes its weakness on the global stage.
