ISLAMABAD, 20 August 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani in Islamabad and discussed bilateral relations, the regional situation and Syria’s reconstruction efforts. Welcoming the Syrian foreign minister and his delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and recalled his recent meetings with the Syrian leadership. The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. He also reiterated Pakistan’s strong support for Syria’s position on the issue of the Golan Heights. Highlighting the historic and close ties between Pakistan and Syria, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need to translate the longstanding relationship into practical cooperation in diverse areas, including political relations, defence, trade, investment, education and human resource development. The prime minister said the restoration of direct flights between Pakistan and Syria would help strengthen people-to-people contacts and facilitate Pakistani pilgrims travelling to Syria.The meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple fields.