PM Shehbaz stresses need to translate friendship with Syria into bilateral cooperation

On Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasizing that the enduring relationship between Islamabad and Damascus should lead to improved bilateral cooperation. Shaibani arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for an official visit.

During the meeting, Sharif reiterated Pakistan's support for Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and pledged to champion Syria's stance on the Golan Heights. He also noted that resuming direct flights between the two nations would bolster people-to-people exchanges and aid pilgrims traveling from Pakistan to Syria.

In response, Shaibani delivered Syrian President Ahmed al-Assad's well wishes to Sharif and provided an update on Syria's ongoing reconstruction endeavors. He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its consistent backing of Syria and requested an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually agreeable time. Earlier, Dar affirmed Pakistan's backing for Syria's "sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity," according to the Foreign Office (FO).

The FO disclosed that during delegation-level talks, Dar reiterated Pakistan's commitment to Syria's sovereignty. Following an Israeli assault on a Syrian airbase the previous day, both nations reasserted their "long-standing brotherly ties," discussed bilateral cooperation, and exchanged perspectives on regional and global affairs, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, South Asia, and Middle Eastern developments.

Shaibani also applauded the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, highlighting Pakistan's role in regional peace and stability, particularly in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Both sides reiterated their dedication to ongoing engagement and cooperation for regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity. Before the delegation-level talks, Dar and his Syrian counterpart held a private meeting, during which they reiterated their commitment to "brotherly ties," debated ways to broaden bilateral cooperation, and held "in-depth" conversations on regional happenings.