Syrian foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, at the head of a high-level delegation on Thursday. This is the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan in 19 years and the first visit by a senior Syrian diplomatic official to the country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released images of the Syrian foreign minister’s arrival and said al-Shibani was received in Islamabad by Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary for Middle East Affairs.
The visit was made at the invitation of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and al-Shibani is scheduled to remain in Islamabad for two days. During the visit, officials from the two countries are expected to discuss bilateral relations and ways to expand cooperation between Syria and Pakistan.
According to Pakistani officials, regional and international developments will also be among the main topics of discussion between the Syrian and Pakistani delegations. The Pakistani government has described the visit as an important step toward strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation with Syria.
This is the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan since former Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem traveled to Islamabad in May 2007. Al-Shibani is also the first Syrian foreign minister to visit Pakistan since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024 and the establishment of transitional leadership in Damascus.
The Syrian foreign minister’s visit comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with security developments in Syria continuing to draw the attention of regional countries. On Wednesday, Pakistan strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.
Islamabad described the strike as a “provocative” act and a clear violation of international law, warning that such actions could further undermine regional peace and stability.
Israel justified the strike by citing concerns over a possible Turkish military presence at the base. Syria and Türkiye, however, have rejected the claim. Pakistan has also called on the international community to play its role in holding Israel accountable for what it described as violations of international law.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed the country’s full support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying that Islamabad stands with the Syrian people and supports efforts to establish peace and ensure their well-being.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
