Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani landed in Islamabad on a two-day official visit to Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday.
According to the statement on X, Al-Shaibani was received by the FO's additional secretary for the Middle East upon his arrival in the capital. He was accompanied by a high-level official delegation during the visit, which was being held at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
H.E. Mr. Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50.
Upon arrival, the… pic.twitter.com/95YAJPUJ4r
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 19, 2026
In an earlier statement issued on Wednesday, the FO said the visit would involve "in-depth discussions across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations" and a review of avenues for "further enhancing bilateral cooperation". The two sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and international developments.
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Curtain Raiser: Visit of the Foreign Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic to Pakistan
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 19, 2026
The ministry described the visit as "an important step towards further enhancing Pakistan-Syria relations and advancing cooperation between the two countries".
The visit comes a day after Pakistan condemned Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian military airbase, with Islamabad warning that such actions could further undermine regional peace and stability.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the FO described the attack on the Abu al-Duhur Airbase in Syria's Idlib province as "unprovoked" and a "flagrant violation of international law". It warned that the "provocative actions" could further destabilise an already volatile region.
Pakistan also expressed its "unwavering solidarity" with the Syrian people and reiterated its "full support" for Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and prosperity. Islamabad called on the international community to play its role in ending what it described as "repeated violations of international law" by Israeli forces and urged it to hold Israel accountable for its "destabilising actions" in the region.
Read: Pakistan condemns ‘unprovoked’ Israeli attack on Syrian airbase
The condemnation followed Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northwestern Syria early on Tuesday. Syrian state media reported that eight strikes had hit the facility, damaging the runway and storage facilities. Syrian military sources and a local resident cited by state media said there were no casualties.
The Israeli military did not comment on the strikes, while Syria's Defence Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
US special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack described the strikes as an "unnecessary escalation" and said they did not advance regional stability. He called for restraint and engagement, saying all parties should prioritise dialogue over further military incidents.
The strikes came amid heightened tensions in the region and underscored concerns over the expansion of military activity in Syria, where Israel has repeatedly carried out operations against what it says are security threats.
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