ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned Israel’s “continued and repeated” incursions and airstrikes in Syria, saying durable peace in the Middle Eastern state required a credible political transition and an inclusive government.
Israel capitalized last December on the fall of the long regime of Bashar Assad to bolster its military foothold in Syria. It now controls a 400-square-km demilitarized buffer zone, supports the Druze minority and is opposed to the Syrian leadership.
Syria’s foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned Israeli strikes on the southwestern city of Daraa, which it said had killed and injured civilians. The strikes a day earlier killed at least three people and injured 19 others, the Syrian civil defense group, known as the White Helmets, said.
The Israeli army confirmed the strikes, the latest in a string of attacks targeting Syria’s military infrastructure since rebels toppled Assad. Israel said it targeted military headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment.
“Israel’s continued and repeated incursions and airstrikes into the Syrian territory, continued violation of 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and its declared intent for an indefinite presence and full demilitarization of Syria are unacceptable, constitute latent violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and undermine international law and regional stability,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“A durable peace in Syria hinges on a credible political transition, national unity and reconciliation and inclusive governance.”
The Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, which was signed on May 31, 1974, provided for the continuation of the ceasefire already in effect and for the separation of opposing parties by a UN Peacekeeping Force.
After the fall of Assad, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period in late January. Israel says it will not tolerate what it describes as an Islamist militant presence in southern Syria and has sent its troops into Syria’s border zone.
Syria’s leadership has said it does not intend to open a front against Israel.
Pakistan says Syria needs ‘credible political transition,’ condemns Israeli incursions and airstrikes
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Pakistan says Syria needs ‘credible political transition,’ condemns Israeli incursions and airstrikes
- After fall of Bashar Assad regime, Israel expanded occupation of Syrian Golan Heights by seizing demilitarized buffer zone
- Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes on military sites and assets across Syria, including fighter jets, missile and air defense systems
Saudi company eyes multi-sector projects in Pakistan worth $200 million each — ministry
- Delegation from Saudi firm Kyan explores investment in energy, mining, IT and agriculture
- Talks come amid Pakistan’s push to attract Gulf capital and boost foreign investment inflows
ISLAMABAD: A Saudi company is exploring potential multi-sector investment projects in Pakistan with an estimated minimum value of $200 million per scheme, Pakistan’s ministry of information said on Wednesday.
The development comes as Pakistan seeks to attract increased foreign direct investment from Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, as part of efforts to stabilize its economy, improve investor confidence and expand industrial capacity. Saudi Arabia has in recent years pledged billions of dollars in potential investments across Pakistan’s mining, energy and infrastructure sectors, though several projects remain at exploratory or negotiation stages.
According to the ministry of Information, a delegation from Saudi firm Kyan visited Islamabad and expressed interest in investing in sectors including energy, mining, information technology, agriculture and livestock. The delegation participated in the “Indus AI Week” organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and held meetings with Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh.
“The delegation shared proposals for various potential projects with an estimated minimum investment of USD 200 million for each project and also conveyed their interest in bringing additional Saudi investors to Pakistan,” the information ministry said.
Welcoming the delegation, Sheikh highlighted Pakistan’s market size and geographic position.
“With a population of over 250 million, Pakistan represents a large and dynamic market,” the minister said, adding that the country’s location provides access to landlocked Central Asian states, making it an attractive hub for regional trade and investment.
The ministry statement said the Board of Investment offered facilitation through its Business Facilitation Center, which provides a single-window mechanism for investor approvals and coordination. Sheikh also assured the delegation of support in arranging meetings with the business community and visits to Special Economic Zones, where incentives include income tax and import duty exemptions.
The minister referred to recent engagements between Pakistani and Saudi officials and reiterated that both countries could work to unlock new avenues of bilateral investment and economic cooperation, according to the statement.
Saudi Arabia is among Pakistan’s largest sources of worker remittances and has emerged as a key partner in Islamabad’s efforts to secure external financing and long-term investment commitments in recent years.
