Approximately 350 Pakistani nationals, including 245 pilgrims, successfully crossed the Syria-Lebanon border after being stranded in Syria for an extended period.
This evacuation was conducted under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, with the Embassy of Pakistan in Damascus facilitating the process.
Deputy Head of Mission Umar Hayat personally accompanied the stranded individuals to the border, where they were received by Nawab Adil, the Deputy Head of Mission in Beirut.
The repatriation brought relief to Pakistani nationals who had faced months of uncertainty in Syria, with the embassy playing a vital role in ensuring their safe return.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office informed the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that efforts are ongoing to evacuate more Pakistani citizens stranded in Syria.
The committee was briefed that over 700 Pakistani families currently reside in Syria, and the Foreign Office assured that assistance is being provided to those seeking help.
The Pakistani embassy in Damascus, staffed with 12 members, remains fully operational and secure, the committee was told.
In a related development, the Foreign Office condemned Israel’s recent actions in Syria. Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch strongly criticized Israel’s aggression and its illegal occupation of Syrian territory, calling it a “serious violation of international law.”
She noted that Israel’s actions were a dangerous escalation in an already tense region, highlighting its ongoing defiance of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for Syria’s sovereignty and rejected Israel’s territorial claims by force. The Foreign Office reiterated its commitment to UNSC Resolution 497, which deems Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights “null and void.”
Pakistan called on the international community, particularly the UNSC, to take decisive action against Israeli violations of international law and aggression.
The spokesperson also stressed that lasting peace in the Middle East requires Israel’s full withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights.
