Syria seeks closer ties with Pakistan, condemns cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan

Syrian Foreign Minister Asad Hassan Al-Shaibani has said Damascus wants to deepen relations with Pakistan, expand people-to-people contacts and explore future cooperation with regional partners, while condemning terrorist attacks against Pakistan originating from Afghanistan.

Speaking informally to journalists during his visit to Pakistan, Al-Shaibani said relations between the peoples of Pakistan and Syria were natural and that both governments wanted to further develop bilateral ties.

“We are opening the door to people-to-people relations,” he said, adding that the Syrian delegation had received a warm response from the Pakistani government.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Chief of Defence Forces also wanted strong relations with Syria.

On regional security, Al-Shaibani said Syria supported stability in Lebanon and called on Iran not to interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

Referring to Afghanistan, the Syrian foreign minister condemned terrorist attacks against Pakistan originating from Afghan territory and called on the Afghan government to take steps to stop terrorism.

Al-Shaibani described Turkey as an important ally of Syria, saying Ankara had stood with Syria and its people for the past 14 years.

On Israel, he said Syria wanted Israeli attacks to stop and added that the United States was making efforts towards reconciliation.

The Syrian foreign minister said his government was also considering various options regarding possible cooperation or participation under the Mecca Agreement involving Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

He described Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as important regional countries and said Syria would decide in the future whether to become part of such an arrangement.

“Israel has no right to tell us who our allies or partners can be,” he said.

Al-Shaibani said Islamabad had made no offer during his visit to mediate between Syria and Iran.

However, he said Damascus would have no objection to Pakistani mediation if Iran acknowledged its past role in relation to Syria and its people and Pakistan subsequently offered to facilitate talks.

The Syrian foreign minister said Syria held Pakistan in high regard and wanted bilateral relations to expand further.