The foreign minister of the Syrian Arab Republic, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit to Pakistan, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, in a visit considered the first at the level of foreign ministers between the two countries in nearly two decades.
The Syrian guest was received upon his arrival by the Additional Secretary for Middle East Affairs at Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, before Dar received him later at the ministry’s headquarters.
The two ministers held a closed bilateral meeting, which Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described as characterized by cordiality and a constructive spirit, during which the two sides renewed their affirmation of the deep fraternal ties between Pakistan and Syria and discussed ways to advance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, alongside in-depth discussions addressing regional developments.
The bilateral meeting was followed by an expanded round of talks at the level of the two delegations, devoted to reviewing the full range of Pakistani–Syrian relations and exploring prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
This visit carries a significance that goes beyond its protocol character. It is the first contact at this level between Islamabad and Damascus in nearly twenty years, and it reflects Syria’s course of repositioning itself within its Islamic and international surroundings in the post–political change phase the country has witnessed. It also comes at a time when Pakistan is experiencing unprecedented diplomatic momentum following its successful mediation between Washington and Tehran, which makes the timing of the visit a reflection of a mutual desire: Damascus seeking new partners and the activation of its foreign relations, and Islamabad striving to consolidate its presence as a pivotal player in the region’s issues, from the Gulf to the Levant.
اشترك لتصلك أبرز التغطيات والقصص الحصرية من فريق الأسطل مباشرةً إلى بريدك.