Syrian FM makes historic Pakistan visit after 19 years

Syria's top diplomat, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, touched down in Islamabad on Wednesday night for a landmark two-day official visit—the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan in 19 years. The trip, his maiden overseas tour since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in December 2024, signals a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations.

High-level engagements

Shaibani convened with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, where the pair discussed avenues for enhanced cooperation and exchanged views on regional developments. The Syrian delegation is also expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials during the course of the visit, underscoring the importance Islamabad attaches to re-engaging with Syria's post-Assad leadership.

A diplomatic milestone

The last Syrian foreign minister to visit Pakistan was Walid al-Mouallem in 2007, making this week's meeting a rare and significant diplomatic event. Prior to this visit, a Pakistani delegation had travelled to Damascus in June 2026 to lay the groundwork for renewed engagement. Analysts view Shaibani's arrival as a reflection of shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, with Pakistan positioning itself as a potential bridge between the Arab world and South Asia amid Syria's transitional period.