Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has arrived in Islamabad on an official visit to Pakistan, marking the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to the country in 19 years.
Al-Shaibani is in Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with the two sides holding delegation-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing major regional developments.
During the talks, Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, amid growing tensions in the region and a recent Israeli airstrike on a Syrian military airbase.
The visit is being closely watched because it represents the highest-level Syrian visit to Pakistan since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024.
Both countries are also looking to expand cooperation in areas including trade, investment, defence and diplomatic coordination. Syrian officials have described the visit as an important opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen engagement with Pakistan.
Al-Shaibani is also expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his two-day stay in Islamabad.
The visit comes at a highly sensitive moment for the Middle East, as Syria faces growing regional security challenges.
Pakistan, meanwhile, is seeking to maintain diplomatic engagement across the region, making the Syrian foreign minister’s visit an important development in Islamabad’s wider foreign-policy outreach.
