Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad at the head of a high-level delegation. The two-day official visit marked the first trip by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades. During talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the two sides emphasized the deep “fraternal ties” between the two countries.
The foreign ministers discussed the state of bilateral relations, possible areas for expanding cooperation, as well as regional and international developments. Following the one-on-one meeting, expanded talks involving the delegations are planned. Al-Shaibani is also expected to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials.
The visit comes amid Islamabad’s strong condemnation of the Israeli strike on Abu al-Duhur military airfield in Syria’s Idlib province. Pakistan once again declared its support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The last visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan took place in 2007, when Walid Muallem visited the country; a Pakistani delegation, for its part, traveled to Damascus in June last year.
Full version: First visit in 19 years: Syrian foreign minister arrives in Pakistan