India puts out advisory, days after Assad team held talks in Delhi to boost ties

“In view of the situation prevailing in Syria, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all travel to Syria, until further notification,” the MEA said.

“Indians currently in Syria are requested to remain in touch with the Indian embassy in Damascus at their emergency helpline number +963 993385973 (also on WhatsApp) and email ID hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in for updates,” it said.

“Those who can, are advised to leave by the earliest available commercial flights and others are requested to observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum,” it said.

On Friday, India said it is closely following the unfolding situation in Syria.

An image of Syrian President Bashar Assad, riddled with bullets, is seen on the facade of the provincial government office in the aftermath of the opposition’s takeover of Hama. (Photo: AP)

“We have taken note of the recent escalation in fighting in the north of Syria. We are closely following the situation,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“There are about 90 Indian nationals in Syria, including 14 who are working in various UN organisations. Our mission remains in close contact with our nationals for their safety and security,” he said.

Sources in South Block are “surprised” at the sudden escalation in fighting after almost eight years of frozen conflict in the country.

Given that Assad’s regime has survived the fighting since 2011 and has held off the rebels from a possible takeover of Damascus makes New Delhi cautious about any prediction that the Assad regime will collapse anytime soon.

But this time, Syria’s three main allies — Russia, Iran and Hezbollah — are either distracted or weakened, sources in New Delhi said, pointing out that this has provided an opening to the rebels.

With Russia fighting its own war in Ukraine, Iran caught in a conflict with Israel, and Hezbollah having suffered a debilitating blow in the last three months, Assad’s army is on its own — and is unable to defend some of the key cities against groups, some of which had links to Al Qaeda.

New Delhi, in fact, was preparing to revive its political and economic ties with Damascus late last month.

On November 29, India and Syria held Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, where the Indian delegation was led by Dr. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary (WANA), Ministry of External Affairs. The Syrian delegation was led by Ayman Raad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Syria.

According to the MEA, the discussions reviewed the entire range of India-Syria bilateral relations, with a renewed commitment to energise the institutional mechanisms between the two countries, and both sides also discussed avenues to deepen the bilateral relationship with special focus on areas like pharmaceuticals, developmental partnership and capacity building. The two sides also exchanged perspectives on important regional and global issues of mutual interest, it said.

India has been a keen developmental partner for Syria and is also actively involved in capacity-building of the Syrian youth.

The discussions at the diplomatic level were expected to contribute to further strengthening of the bilateral partnership, but sources said that given the current situation, it is a “wait and watch” stage for New Delhi for the time being.