RAWALPINDI(National Times)- Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, with security and defence cooperation coming under discussion, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations said the meeting took place at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

It said that “matters of mutual interest, regional security environment and avenues for enhanced bilateral defence and security cooperation were discussed” during the meeting.

“CDF Munir highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding fraternal ties with Syria and shared Pakistan’s perspective on global peace and regional stability, underscoring the importance of cooperation and collaborative efforts to address common security challenges,” it added.

It added that the visiting dignitary appreciated the professional role played by the armed forces in promoting regional peace and stability.

“Both sides reiterated their resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand engagements in the fields of defence and security,” it said.

The Syrian foreign minister had arrived in Islamabad on Thursday for an official visit at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

He also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who stressed the need to translate the longstanding ties between Pakistan and Syria into enhanced cooperation in politics, defence, trade, investment, education and human resource development.

The Syrian minister also proposed establishing a Pakistan-Syria Joint Business Council to facilitate direct interaction between the business communities of the two countries.

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