Islamabad, Aug 20: Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the foreign ministers of the two countries held wide-ranging talks focused on regional and global developments and efforts to promote security and stability in West Asia.
Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, the first Syrian foreign minister to visit Islamabad in 19 years, met his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and exchanged views on international developments, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, and the situation in South Asia and West Asia.
“The two sides reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and Syria and agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, the situation in South Asia, and developments in West Asia, it added.
His visit comes amidst Israel’s ongoing incursions into Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.
Dar, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, “reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” the FO said.
The Syrian minister welcomed the signing of the trilateral defence pact by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and “commended Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability, including its efforts towards de-escalation in the US-Iran context,” it said.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement and cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond,” the FO said.
The two sides also discussed regional and international developments and efforts to promote security and stability in the region, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported.
The Syrian foreign minister also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s position on the Golan Heights — a Syrian-claimed territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
Sharif emphasised the need to translate the longstanding Pakistan-Syria friendship into enhanced cooperation across politics, defence, trade, investment, education, and human resource development, his office said in a statement.
He said the resumption of direct flights between the two countries would enhance people-to-people exchanges and facilitate a large number of pilgrims who undertake religious visits to Syria from Pakistan.
Al-Shaiban thanked Pakistan for its consistent support to Syria and expressed his government’s keen interest in revitalising bilateral engagement, including through early institutional mechanisms for cooperation.
Sharif also invited President Ahmed al-Sharaa to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date.
Then Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem travelled to Pakistan in May 2007.
