Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seems to have developed a habit of turning international summits into personal moments of embarrassment. His recent appearance at the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt was no different. What was meant to be a high-profile diplomatic gathering featuring world leaders ended up adding yet another entry to Sharif’s growing list of awkward encounters on the global stage.
Trump’s praise for Modi leaves Sharif squirming
The Monday summit in Sharm El Sheikh saw the presence of several world leaders including US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. Representing India was Minister of State Kirti Vardhan, while Shehbaz Sharif attended on behalf of Pakistan.
Things began to unravel for Sharif when Trump took the microphone. The US President first acknowledged Sharif’s presence but added that he had actually been expecting someone else (an apparent reference to Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir – the de facto leader of the country).
“Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and also, I have to say, my favourite field marshal from Pakistan, who’s not here, but the prime minister is here, and you’re going to give his regards. Where are you?” Trump said, referring to Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir.
Sharif, standing behind Trump, was left visibly uncomfortable as cameras caught his forced smile. But the awkwardness did not end there.
Moments later, Trump turned to the subject of India-Pakistan relations, lavishing praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top (referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and he’s just done a fantastic job. I think Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together,” Trump said.
The remark left Shehbaz Sharif, who was standing just a few feet away, caught in an even tighter diplomatic corner, his uneasy grin doing little to hide the discomfort.
Sharif’s turn to speak, and flatter
When Trump later invited Sharif to speak, the Pakistani prime minister appeared eager to win back attention, or perhaps Trump’s approval. Instead of addressing the Gaza issue substantively, Sharif used the platform to shower praise on Trump, calling him the most deserving candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Had it not been for this gentleman, who knows, India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers, had he not intervened with his wonderful team during those four days, the war could’ve escalated to a level… and who would’ve lived to tell what happened,” Sharif said.
He continued, describing Trump as the “most genuine and most wonderful” Nobel candidate, claiming that the former US president had not only saved “millions of people” in South Asia but was now repeating the feat in Gaza.
Trump, amused by the over-the-top flattery, responded with a laugh: “Wow! I didn’t expect that. Let’s go home, there’s nothing more I have to say. Goodbye everybody. That was really beautiful and beautifully delivered, thank you very much.”
The exchange quickly made rounds on social media, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s reaction to Sharif’s speech drew particular attention. Among those who commented was Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who wrote on X: “Just fell short of calling him (Donald Trump) Daddy, would have completed the boot licking.”
Embarrassment is becoming a pattern
This is hardly Sharif’s first brush with humiliation on the global stage. His previous appearance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, turned into a spectacle of diplomatic awkwardness.
Back then, Sharif was seen fumbling with his translation headphones during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving the Russian leader visibly amused. The incident, captured on video, showed Sharif repeatedly adjusting his earpiece as Putin waited, smiling politely. This was not the first time Sharif had faced such a moment; a similar headphone mishap had occurred during a previous meeting with Putin in Uzbekistan.
The Pakistani prime minister was described as “struggling for relevance” as global attention at the SCO summit focused on Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin. A photo of the three leaders sharing a light moment went viral, overshadowing Sharif’s presence entirely.
Sharif was also caught on camera running after Putin for a handshake after a group photo, a gesture that social media users described as “pathetic attention-seeking behaviour.” One user commented, “While other leaders showed composure, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif came running to Putin to shake his hand… Xi Jinping realised what Shehbaz was going to do, so he looked the other way and ignored him.”
The internet never forgets
Back home, Sharif has not been spared either. Earlier this year, he was mocked for posting a congratulatory message to Donald Trump on X, even though the platform was officially banned in Pakistan back then. The post was quickly flagged by X with a Community Note pointing out that the prime minister had likely accessed the platform illegally through a VPN.
A pattern of public blunders
From fumbling headphones in front of Putin to gushing over Trump at a peace summit, Shehbaz Sharif’s repeated blunders paint a picture of a leader desperate for international recognition but repeatedly falling short.
At a time when Pakistan’s economy is crumbling and its foreign policy standing is shrinking, Sharif’s global performances seem to offer little more than comic relief. Whether it’s China, Uzbekistan, or Egypt, one thing appears certain: wherever Shehbaz Sharif goes, awkward moments are never far behind.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
