Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif called for broader cooperation with Syria in political, defence, trade and investment sectors during a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. Sharif formally invited Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to make an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient time.

According to a statement from the Pakistani prime minister’s office, Sharif welcomed the Syrian delegation and conveyed greetings to al-Sharaa. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and referred to Pakistan’s position on the Golan Heights. The meeting marked the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan in 19 years; Walid al-Muallem last visited in 2007.

Al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday night for a two-day visit, his first trip to Pakistan as foreign minister after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. The sides identified energy, transport, agriculture, industry, housing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and information technology as potential cooperation areas. Syria proposed a joint investment forum in Damascus, while Pakistan expressed interest in sending trade and business delegations and reviving a joint ministerial commission.