ISLAMABAD: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani is visiting Pakistan from August 19 to 20 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
Shaibani is leading a high-level Syrian delegation during the two-day visit, which is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties between Pakistan and Syria.
According to the Foreign Office, the two sides will hold detailed discussions covering the full range of bilateral relations. The talks will also explore opportunities to expand cooperation in various fields and include an exchange of views on regional and international developments.
The Foreign Office described the visit as an important step towards further strengthening relations between Pakistan and Syria.
Shaibani’s visit carries additional significance as it is the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan since May 2007, when then-Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Mouallem visited Islamabad.
It is also the first such visit since the change of government in Damascus following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
The visit comes at a sensitive time for Syria and the wider Middle East, with regional security developments expected to feature prominently in discussions between the two sides.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan strongly condemned what it described as an “unprovoked” Israeli attack on a Syrian military facility.
Syrian state-run Ekhbariya television, citing a military source, reported that Israel carried out eight airstrikes targeting the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Aleppo in northwestern Syria.
A separate military source and a civilian living near the facility reportedly said there were no casualties from the strikes.
The Pakistan Foreign Office said such provocative actions were a serious violation of international law and could further threaten regional peace and stability.
Pakistan also reiterated its support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and prosperity, while expressing solidarity with the Syrian people.
The Syrian foreign minister’s visit is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for both countries to discuss not only bilateral cooperation but also pressing regional security issues.
The talks in Islamabad could further strengthen diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Syria amid changing political and security dynamics in the region.
