A planned bilateral meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin took an unexpected turn during an international forum in Turkmenistan marking the 30th anniversary of the country’s permanent neutrality. After reportedly waiting 40 minutes for his scheduled meeting, Sharif entered a closed-door discussion between Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to a video published by RT India. The footage, which quickly spread on social media, showed Sharif entering the room in apparent frustration, prompting online criticism and ridicule over what users described as a diplomatic breach. RT India later deleted the video, stating that it might have misrepresented the situation and caused misunderstanding. The incident occurred on the sidelines of a high-level gathering attended by leaders from Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. While the exact circumstances remain unclear, the episode underscores the sensitivity of protocol in international diplomacy. Analysts note that such moments, even if unintended, can affect perceptions of state conduct and highlight the challenges of managing optics in multilateral settings.