Rawalpindi (GNP): Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, leading a delegation, met with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The two sides discussed shared interests, the broader regional security picture, and possible ways to expand defense and security cooperation between the two countries. Munir spoke to Pakistan’s long-standing friendship with Syria and its views on regional and global stability, emphasizing the value of joint efforts against common security threats.
The Syrian minister, for his part, praised the professional conduct of Pakistan’s armed forces in supporting regional stability. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to deepening their defense and security relationship going forward.
Al-Shaibani arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday evening at the head of a senior delegation, aiming to review bilateral relations and discuss regional developments — his trip coming as tensions flare between the U.S. and Iran. President Trump announced Wednesday a stepped-up economic pressure campaign against Iran and nations backing it.
The visit was notable as the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades. During his stay, Al-Shaibani held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Munir.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Al-Shaibani said Syria is considering whether to join the recently signed Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, though no decision has been made. The pact, signed August 7, commits its members to treating an attack on any one of them as an attack on all three.
He said Syria had watched the agreement’s formation with interest, as with any observing country, and recognizes the regional importance of the three signatories. But he stressed that Damascus remains undecided and is weighing its options, calling the question of membership something to be resolved later rather than immediately.
His remarks came against a backdrop of escalating tension with Israel, which struck Syria’s Abu Al-Duhur air base eight times this past week, damaging the runway and storage facilities. Israel said the strikes aimed to head off a possible Turkish military presence there, a claim Türkiye denied.
Al-Shaibani said relations with Israel have been strained since the Assad government’s collapse on December 8, accusing Israel of actively working to block Syria’s stabilization and reconstruction efforts. He also alleged that Israeli forces breached the 1974 disengagement agreement by pushing into the buffer zone, and said the U.S. is currently working to mediate between Damascus and Israel — both to maintain de-escalation and to pursue a broader security arrangement that would halt Israeli military actions against Syria.
His comments followed the August 18–19 strikes on Abu Al-Duhur in Idlib, which Damascus called a breach of international law. Pakistan has also condemned the strikes, cautioning that they risk fueling further regional instability.
Also read: Pakistan, Syria Discuss Expanding Bilateral Ties
Al-Shaibani linked Syria’s push for economic engagement directly to its reconstruction needs after years of war, saying the previous regime’s conflict with the Syrian people left the country’s infrastructure in ruins. He said Damascus is now focused on rebuilding and is actively seeking economic partnerships and allies to support that effort.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
