ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani is due to visit Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The visit comes as Syria’s transitional leadership pursues regional and international engagement following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

According to the statement, Shaibani would undertake the visit from August 19-20 and will be accompanied by a high-level delegation.

“During the visit, the two sides will hold in-depth discussions across the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, review avenues for further enhancing bilateral cooperation, and exchange views on regional and international developments,” the statement read.

The FO noted that the visit marks an important step towards further enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between Pakistan and Syria.

The visit will be the first by a Syrian foreign minister since Walid al-Mouallem travelled to Pakistan in May 2007 and the first since the change of government in Damascus.

Earlier today, the FO strongly condemned an “unprovoked” attack carried out by Israel on an airbase in Syria, saying such acts had the potential to “further undermine regional peace and stability”.

Syria’s state-run Ekhbariya television, citing a military source, said on Tuesday that Israel carried out eight airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur base near Aleppo in northwest Syria. A separate military source and a civilian who lived near the base said there were no casualties.

“Such provocative actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law and have the potential to further undermine regional peace and stability,” the FO said on Wednesday.

“Pakistan expresses its unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Syria, and reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as peace and prosperity of the Syrian Arab Republic.”