Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for turning the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and Syria into concrete bilateral cooperation, according to a report by Dawn. The statement came as Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad for a two-day visit on August 19-20.
Al-Shaibani met with Prime Minister Sharif during his trip, as confirmed by the Associated Press of Pakistan. The Syrian foreign minister’s visit was also set to include talks with Pakistani officials, with The Nation reporting that he was scheduled to hold discussions with the prime minister. TRT World noted that Pakistan reaffirmed its support for Syria’s sovereignty during the high-level meetings.
The visit takes place against a backdrop of regional tensions, as The Express Tribune reported. While the exact agenda of the talks has not been fully detailed in available reporting, the public statements from Pakistani officials emphasize a desire to move beyond symbolic friendship and toward practical cooperation between the two nations.
Dawn’s coverage highlights that Prime Minister Sharif stressed the need to translate the existing relationship into tangible bilateral work. This suggests that economic, diplomatic, or security collaboration could be on the table, though specific agreements have not been announced in the reports reviewed.
The visit by Al-Shaibani signals continued diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Damascus, even as broader regional dynamics remain unsettled. The two countries have maintained ties over the years, and this meeting appears aimed at reinforcing that connection.
What to watch next: whether the two governments announce any specific agreements or joint initiatives following the foreign minister’s talks in Islamabad.
