Looking for Intelligence Sharing with India, Economic Aid: Syria

[mkb95]

Syria today said it received “positive response” from India to its requests on intelligence sharing and economic aid especially in terms of food grains and medicines as the worn-torn country battles terrorism on one side and sanctions imposed by the West on the other.

Syrian Deputy Prime minister Walid Al Maoulem, who is on a three-day visit to India, also said the Syrian authorities have taken “four young Indians” into custody. He said he has also asked the Indian authorities to come and verify the details about the four youths, who had “crossed over from Jordan to Syria to join the ISIS”.

He said if the 39 Indians, who were taken hostage by ISISmilitants from Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, were with Iraqi forces he will try to secure their release but “won’t be able to do anything if they are still in the custody of ISIS”.

“We have had very positive and productive discussion with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and the National Security Advisor (Ajit Doval). We discussed a range of issues including sharing of intelligence. We have emphasised on security cooperation with India and our Point of Interest was convergent on fighting terrorism

“The US and other countries have imposed unilateral sanctions on Syria. We are not only facing the problem of drought (in some provinces), but are battling terrorism. We have asked India for economic aid, rice, wheat and medicines,” Maoulem told reporters at a news conference here.

Yesterday, Swaraj had conveyed to Maoulem that India was sending medicines worth USD 1 million to Syria soon. Maoulem said Syria wanted to “revive” old economic ties with India.

Maoulem visited Russia and China before arriving here yesterday. Hit hard by economic sanctions and terrorism, he said around 4,00,000 barrels of oil is being “stolen” by ISIS per day.

When asked about what was Syria expecting from India in the Geneva Conference, Maoulem, who is also the Foreign Minister, said the country does not want any interference from any third party and expects only economic aid from India.

“We don’t want interference from anyone outsider in the Geneva Conference. Let Syrians decide their future through the Constitution, Parliament and election process. There should be no pre-condition to the Geneva Conference,” he said.

The Geneva II Conference on Syria is a United Nations- backed international peace conference on the future of Syria with the aim of ending the Syrian Civil War by bringing together the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to discuss the clear steps towards a transitional government for Syria with full executive powers.

He also lauded Russia for its cooperation with the Syrians and said the work done by it in combating terrorism was much more than what has been done by the US-led coalition in 18 months.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad since September, targeting the terror outfit ISIS which has seized vast swathes of land in that country.

“The work done by Russia in three months as compared to he work by the US-led coalition is ten times better and has acheived significant results. With Russian air strikes and coordination with the Syrians ground forces, we have been managed to gain control over 20 bastions,” Moaulem said.

He said that the ongoing diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran will also effect Syria. He also alleged that blamed Saudi, a Sunni country, financed and gave military support to terrorists in Syria while Iran, a Shia country, was helping it to combat terrorism and has “never tried to exploit” the religious situation in the country. Syria too is a Shia-dominated country.

He also lashed out at Turkey and accused it of “backstabbing” Syria, saying it has “it organised terrorist camps and received mmoney from Saudi Arabia” to destabilise Syria.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Vikas Swarup ‏@MEAIndia Jan 11
Emphasizing engagement. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Syrian Dy PM & FM, Walid Al Moualem for bilateral discussions

 

[Brahmaputra Mail]

He said if the 39 Indians, who were taken hostage by ISISmilitants from Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014, were with Iraqi forces he will try to secure their release but “won’t be able to do anything if they are still in the custody of ISIS”.

This case of 39 Indians was also raised with the Palestinians. Wonder what's going on !

 

[Abingdonboy]

Vikas Swarup ‏@MEAIndia Jan 11
Emphasizing engagement. EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Syrian Dy PM & FM, Walid Al Moualem for bilateral discussions

India should provide all the aid it can to the people of Syria, they are suffering horribly right now especially due to a paucity of food. Whilst the rest of the "big" nations are playing their power games and raising Syria to the ground India should step up and try to help the people of Syria where possible. There are horrific food shortages in Syria right now, I heard that 1KG of rice can cost up to $100USD in some parts of Syria.

@PARIKRAMA @Vauban @Levina @Parul @knight11 @MilSpec

 

[knight11]

India should provide all the aid it can to the people of Syria, they are suffering horribly right now especially due to a paucity of food. Whilst the rest of the "big" nations are playing their power games and raising Syria to the ground India should step up and try to help the people of Syria where possible. There are horrific food shortages in Syria right now, I heard that 1KG of rice can cost up to $100USD in some parts of Syria.

@PARIKRAMA @Vauban @Levina @Parul @knight11 @MilSpec

Sure, they are facing lot of problem, and their problem could not be contained for them for ever, it will effect Indians too.
The danger of ISIS is there, and Syria is stuck between the two NATO and ASAAD+Russia and Saudi, turkey having own agenda. India should help Syria and I advocate even sending Indian force. If India wants permanent membership in UNSG, and wants Super power nuclear status, then why shying from such adventurous risk and come up and think more on Humanitarian and International benifit rather been impressing Umar Shiekh, and Ussmani.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Sure, they are facing lot of problem, and their problem could not be contained for them for ever, it will effect Indians too.
The danger of ISIS is there, and Syria is stuck between the two NATO and ASAAD+Russia and Saudi, turkey having own agenda. India should help Syria and I advocate even sending Indian force. If India wants permanent membership in UNSG, and wants Super power nuclear status, then why shying from such adventurous risk and come up and think more on Humanitarian and International benifit rather been impressing Umar Shiekh, and Ussmani.

India's role should be limited to humanitarian assitance, Indian boots on the ground will not help much, it will only hurt India's postion strategically (incurring further wrath from ISIS) and cost the lives of a LOT of Indian troops. Not even the US has deployed their boots on the ground.

But India should look to train/equip the Kurds.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

India should provide all the aid it can to the people of Syria, they are suffering horribly right now especially due to a paucity of food. Whilst the rest of the "big" nations are playing their power games and raising Syria to the ground India should step up and try to help the people of Syria where possible. There are horrific food shortages in Syria right now, I heard that 1KG of rice can cost up to $100USD in some parts of Syria.

@PARIKRAMA @Vauban @Levina @Parul @knight11 @MilSpec

I think for the time being we can restrict our relationship to humanitarian needs so food, supply of essential amenities, medicines and healthcare treatment can be looked into.. How about a make shift hospital?

Also keep the government in good humor.. once the dust settles in a decade, this relationship may help us with some fulfillment of energy needs without hassles (Oil)

About Intelligence sharing, i would advocate a strong system for exchanging information. Daesh elements is soon coming over.. IF you see them losing, the morale shattered folks would become free lancers entering the Afghanistan- Pakistan - India - Bangladesh theater in a big way and terrorist activities would rise rapidly... We need to be ready for that when the time comes....

 

[knight11]

India's role should be limited to humanitarian assitance, Indian boots on the ground will not help much, it will only hurt India's postion strategically (incurring further wrath from ISIS) and cost the lives of a LOT of Indian troops. Not even the US has deployed their boots on the ground.

But India should look to train/equip the Kurds.

Sure but when I saw the program of the Yesdi girls fighting the butcher wahabi ISIS, definately we should give them help, and they not only need humanitarian, but also tactical, military help as soon as possible.
These ISIS are selling those girls and women like the stocks. -- Buttcher, Animal, Kutte, Kamine, S of B**

 

[Levina]

India should provide all the aid it can to the people of Syria, they are suffering horribly right now especially due to a paucity of food. Whilst the rest of the "big" nations are playing their power games and raising Syria to the ground India should step up and try to help the people of Syria where possible. There are horrific food shortages in Syria right now, I heard that 1KG of rice can cost up to $100USD in some parts of Syria.

@PARIKRAMA @Vauban @Levina @Parul @knight11 @MilSpec

ofcourse!!!
We should help Syrians.

So far we have maintained good relations with Syria (like all the other BRICS nations).
At the onset of Syrian civil war, India had to abandon its oil investments in Syria.
So far India has supported Assad while it has not encouraged him to remain in power, I guess that's so because it can have negatively impact on our UNSC campaign.
What worries me is the increasing number of Indian jihadis in Syria, so intelligence sharing with Syria is the need of the hour.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Women trafficking and exploitation is a very big issue in ISIS controlled places.. We need to do something to stop it.. ITs becoming a point where such prolonged exploitation would serve as "inspiration" for other rogue states and terrorist controlled regions..

 

[Parul]

Dispatching military troops abroad is a very hard and complex issue touching politics/public opinion, economy, soft power and more. Due to the constant interventions by the US/UK/EU people have gotten de-sensitized or have misunderstood the complexities relating to the dispatching of troops beyond a nation's borders.

Usually for a country to dispatch military forces beyond their own borders they need to have a very solid reason like a request for help/humanitarian assistance and so on. Not to mention a large amount of public support - even peacekeeping and humanitarian missions can be scrapped if the citizens/public oppose it due to various reason.

Another factor to consider is the ability of the country to support such an action and it's tolerance level - this means the ability of the country to dispatch and operate troops within set parameters while keeping them well supplied and active with constant cycling of reinforcements - this requires vast investment of not just economic capital but political clout as well - since treaties for free passage and the ability to establish and run bases locally have to be negotiated with a lot of different countries. The tolerance level refers to loss in lives, international image, political power and economy that the country is willing to take - this varies since any of these actions will lead to massive increase in negative public opinion which is dangerous to the ruling government.


India has not deployed troops to combat ISIS because of all these factors. She has her own problems with terrorism from across the border and the Naxalites to take care of. Not to mention, all the troops and equipment we can spare are deployed to Humanitarian/Peacekeeping missions inside and outside the country and under various national and international organizations like the UN peacekeeping force.

India also have to consider the political implications which keep India from deploying troops in the Middle East.

India having a large diaspora in the Middle East who send valuable remittance home and the dependency of the country to Oil imports is a grave weakness which has been used to exploit and manipulate the country by the Middle Eastern countries - especially GCC powers like Saudi Arabia (one of our major Oil suppliers). Despite this rise in power and the relative equanimity in the relationship recently, we still have a big weakness which is our large diaspora located in the Middle East who could easily be held/used as hostages with the threat of being deported, losing their jobs and properties and so on acting as a credible deterrent. This means India has to tread carefully in this complex middle eastern issue - it is not just ISIS we have to consider but also the complex power struggles and chaotic political landscape in the Middle East like the power struggles between Saudi Arabia and Iran for hegemony in the middle eastern region, the conflict between Turkey with ISIS against the Kurds, the various other rivalries and disputes not to mention the involvement of Foreign corporations and their Governments.

With all these factors coming into play and our own issues regionally and internationally ll - the Indian government is treading carefully - which is the best and most practical decision for us.

So unless India is attacked by ISIS (God Forbid) in a catastrophic manner like what happened with 26/11, 9/11 or the Peshawar school attacks - India will most probably not deploy troops to the Middle Eastern region. India will-should continue to provide Humanitarian aid and if requested Peacekeeping forces under UN auspices but that is all we can do. We will not wade into a conflict which is complicated and loaded with trouble which could easily backfire on us.

 

[Levina]

Women trafficking and exploitation is a very big issue in ISIS controlled places.. We need to do something to stop it.. ITs becoming a point where such prolonged exploitation would serve as "inspiration" for other rogue states and terrorist controlled regions..

I am not sure how we can stop ISIS from selling women (like cattles) in open markets. But theres a way to reduce trafficking. Traffickers prey on the vulnerable.
Providing shelter and food becomes all the more important in this context.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

Some interesting things that happened in the meeting between EAM Sushma Swaraj and Syrian Dy PM & FM, Walid Al Moualem

India to complete stalled projects in Syria - The Smart Investor

India has assured Syria that it will soon release the second tranche of the $240 million line of credit to complete the stalled Tishreen power project near Damascus as well as the additional $3 million needed for completing the Hama Iron and Steel plant. Work on the two projects, being constructed with Indian assistance, failed to progress because of the unrest in Syria in the last few years.

On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with the visiting Syrian Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid al-Moallem. According to government sources, The Syrian side requested New Delhi to start work on the stalled projects. The Indian side promised to release $100 million line of credit, the remainder from the original $240 million, soon for the power project. India’s BHEL had signed the contract in October 2009 for installing 2X200 MW power plants, but had to suspend work because of the unrest in Syria.

Officials said the steel plant is near completion and New Delhi asked the Syrians to provide suitable security to its engineers to finish pending work. India had extended a $25 million credit line for the rehabilitation and modernization of the Hama Iron & Steel Plant. Apollo International had won the contract for the project through an international tender earlier. “The project was near completion but the current unrest has halted the progress of the project," an official said.

The visiting Syrian minister invited India to invest in his country’s oil and gas sector. He apprised Swaraj and senior South Block officials of the internal political situation in Syria, lauded the success of the Russian air strikes on the ISIS forces and said it was a result of better ground coordination with Syrian forces. Sources said the minister criticised the efforts of the US and its allies in battling the ISIS.

The minister said the transitional government will prepare the ground for an intra-Syrian dialogue, which will lead up to drafting a constitution and elections. He said Syria looked to India to help it in meeting its food and medicine needs as also for providing books on technical education and assistance in building power generation capacity.

@Abingdonboy @Levina @knight11 @MilSpec @Vauban @ranjeet

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

As per wikileaks

Assad's visit to India (prior to current crisis in Syria), was no way substantial, what was notice worthy was Assad's wife wanting to tour all tourists places in India.

Interesting, all of sudden our ties have reached to the level of intelligence sharing.

India should help Syrians in this time of need.

Syrian was among few Arab nations that gave diplomatic support to India during 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars.

 

[SrNair]

It seems India revived their stalled projects in Syria because of the Russian security support .Now we knows that no one going to kick out the Assad from there because of the Russians and shadow support of Chinese .

We should increase our intelligence sharing with Syria ,they know everything about that IS scums , they cant even identify their mothers and sisters, scums