ISTANBUL: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has called for stronger relations between Pakistan and Syria, emphasising the need for greater cooperation among Muslim countries to safeguard their defence and security.He made these remarks during a meeting with Syrian Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Dr. Abu Al-Khair Shukri in Istanbul on Friday.Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Syria held an important place in Islamic civilisation and history, adding that the people of Pakistan had deep affection for the Syrian people. 'We want to see relations between Pakistan and Syria grow stronger,' he said, stressing the importance of cooperation agreements among Muslim countries to strengthen their collective defence and security.The JI chief also said Israel posed a common threat to Muslim countries and was working against their peace and security. He called for greater unity and cooperation among Muslim nations to address shared challenges.Dr. Shukri said Syria had longstanding relations with Ja maat-e-Islami Pakistan and expressed his country's desire to establish cooperation agreements with Pakistan in various fields. He also invited Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to visit Syria.JI Director of Foreign Affairs Asif Luqman Qazi was also present at the meeting.Meanwhile, several prominent Islamic scholars and intellectuals from different countries attending the Ummah Unity Conference organised by the International Union of Muslim Scholars in Istanbul also met Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.Those who met the JI chief included International Union of Muslim Scholars President Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi, Sheikh Essam Al-Bashir from Sudan, Sheikh Ali Al-Sallabi from Libya, Dr. Abdul Hameed Al-Najjar from Tunisia, Dr. Ali Erbas from Trkiye, Sheikh Hammam Saeed from Jordan and Munir Saeed from Palestine.Other participants included Omar Faruq Korkmaz from Trkiye, Dr. Azzam Al-Ayoubi from Lebanon, Sheikh Syed Al-Hajj from Mauritania, Sheikh Tariq from South Africa, Sheikh Abdul Rahman from the United States, Dr. Badli Shah S ham and Ahmed Yahya from Malaysia, and Dr Fadl Murad from Yemen.Prominent personalities from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal also met the JI Emir on the sidelines of the conference.