ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari has said that Pakistan is against terrorism in all its forms and manifestation which threatened peace and stability in the region.

In a meeting with Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly Mohammad Jihadal-Laham, Chairman Senate stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and assisting it in finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis, said a press release.

"As member of the United Nations, Pakistan believes in all nations" right to independent decision making and rejects foreign interference in sovereign countries," he said, calling for respecting the will of the Syrian people.

He said terrorist organizations, mainly IS are tarnishing the image of Islam, reminding that Pakistan has long suffered from the scourge of terrorism.

He pointed to stringent measures in the country to prevent the terror organization from mounting any attack on the Pakistan soil.

Nayyer Bokhari underlined the big role parliamentarians can play in finding political and peaceful solutions of problems stressing the importance of consultation between friendly countries for public welfare.

The Parliament Speaker, on his part, called for utilizing parliamentary diplomacy in combating international terrorism, repelling terrorist organizations, respecting relevant international resolutions and preventing foreign meddling in the affairs of sovereign states.

He warned that terror organizations pose "a cross-border threat that knows no geographical boundaries.

In a joint press conference, Bokhari appreciated the openness shown by the Syrian leadership to solve the crisis through dialogue, hoping that Syria will emerge soon from the crisis engulfing it.

He urged the United Nations member states to shoulder their responsibilities to bring about peace and security in the region and the world.

Al-Laham said that fighting terrorism is top priority.

Meanwhile, Syrian Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi discussed with Chairman Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari means to vitalize cooperation between Syria and Pakistan to cover economic, industrial, technical and medical sectors.

Al-Halqi affirmed the Syrian government's desire to broaden the scope of economic, trade and development sectors and increase trade exchange volume between the two countries, calling on Pakistan companies to contribute to the rehabilitation process in Syria and establishing vital development and service projects.

For his part, Bokhari stressed the importance of upgrading economic and trade relations to match the level of historical and political ties binding the two countries, expressing his government's will to open new bilateral cooperation channels to provide basic needs for the Syrian people.

APP