Syria has inflamed the Cold War era rivalry between Russia and the US, and India has been trying to strengthen its foothold in the region by playing a more constructive role in resolving the conflict. The West Asian country is important for India as it is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), the only group Pakistan has been lobbying to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Syrian Ambassador to India Dr Riad Kemal Abbas talks to Ritu Sharma about cross-border terrorism and Kashmir.
What is your assessment of the situation in Syria?
In Syria, two parties are fighting. One is a terror group and the other is a secular regime. Terror groups are being supported by the US and their allies such as Saudi Arabia, and the secular regime is being supported by Russia, China and BRICS countries. There is no moderate opposition; there are only terror groups on the ground. When they shave their beards, they become moderate opposition, and when they grow their beards, they become terror groups. So as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, there is no good or bad terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism. There is no way to talk to terrorists.
India has problems with Pakistan and it wants Syria’s support in OIC as it is the only group adopting resolutions and commenting on Kashmir. How will Syria balance between its two allies—India and Pakistan?
Syria shares good relations with both countries. It has a different stand in the OIC. We request India and Pakistan to talk out a solution without external intervention within the ambit of the 1972 Shimla Agreement. We are confident that Indian policy makers will resolve the issue. We are against cross-border terrorism. As our President (Bashar al Assad) said, there is no border and no country for terrorism.
OIC’s recent meeting was in Tashkent. Syria took a stand that Kashmir is an internal matter of India?
Our stand is always to find a political solution. India, Pakistan have to resolve the issue bilaterally.