Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani. | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
India called the new start with a damash in the era on Assad, and this week this week, the Syrian interim government was called by President Ahmed Hussein Al-Sharaa.
Suresh Kumar from the Division of West Asia and North Africa on Monday (July 28, 2025) in Damascus met the Minister of Foreign Syrian Government Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani on Monday (July 2025). Sources said it was accompanied by several other Indian officials, including the Indian ambassador to Syria Irshad Ahmed.
Both teams had “constructive dialogue on issues of mutual interest and explored new ways to strengthen bilateral ties in favor of both nations,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said on its official telegram channel.
This has been the first Indian reach to Syria since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, who was expelled in December 2024 for a quarter of a century. India maintained close ties with the Syrian Republic of Arab under his government and his father Hafiz Al Assad, who has been president since 1970 for three decades. Since the end of the Assad era, however, India has promoted the government of “led by Syrian” to solve the political crisis that gripped this country.
Medical aid
In addition to his meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Mr. Kumar also met the Syrian Health Minister Musabe Al-ali. Syria has a large population affected by war, which needs urgent medical care and both parties discussed cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector and to train medical staff to help the affected population. In the post on X spokesman Mea Randhir Jaiswal said that India also handed over “consignment of 5 MT basic drugs saving life, including anti -cancer, antibiotics and antihypertensive against Syria”. He added: “Humanitarian support for India Syria continues.”
Pharma cooperation also appeared in India-Syrian consultations for the Foreign Office (FOC) from November 2024-Styva a week before the launch of Mr. Assad-when Mr. Kumar led the Indian delegation in interviews with the Syrian team led by the Deputy Foreign Minister Assad Ayman Raad.
Search for global legitimacy
Mr. Kumar’s current meetings come against the background of an increased internal dispute in Syria, with various political, religious and sectarian groups fighting for control in Damascus since the fall of Assad 8 December 2024.
The current interim government of Syria is headed by Ahmed Hussein Al-Shara, former leader of Al-Qaeda, who also led the terrorist group Al-Qaeda liberated from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). He is also known under his nom de Guerre Abu Mohammad al Jolani.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, several governments have addressed President Al Shara because Syria has been struggling with internal and external challenges. In recent months, Foreign Minister, Mr. Al Shaibani, has met a number of foreign delegates, including US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio in Turkiy, because the interim government is looking for global legitimacy.
Recharge of Syria policy
Former Indian diplomat Zikrur Rahman, who responded to a meeting in Damascus, said Indian reach was synchronized with the policy of waiting and monitoring of Syria. “India has evacuated its embassy in Damascus since the crisis in Syria was escalating and ended with the fall of Bashar Al Assad. Therefore, it was a matter of time before India formally addressed new ruler in Damascus and changed their Syrian policy after consultation with other regional partners such as Gulf. Syria is expected to accept a new constitution and India has supported the design of the inclusive constitution.
Indian policy on the future of Syria has been repeated several times since the fall of Assad. The day after Mr. Assad fled to Moscow, Mr. Jaiswal said, “We will underline the need for all parties to seek unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Published – 29 July 2025 9:15
