Portrait of Bashar Al Assad
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Bashar Al Assad on Kashmir

India-aligned supporter (strong)

TL;DR

The Bashar Al Assad government consistently supported India's position, viewing Kashmir as an internal matter for New Delhi to resolve.

Key Points

  • The Syrian government under Bashar Al Assad repeatedly described the Kashmir dispute as an internal matter for India.

  • In 2016, Syria reasserted India's right to resolve the Kashmir issue in "any manner" and without external assistance.

  • Assad's government consistently supported India's position, in contrast to many other nations in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Summary

Bashar Al Assad, while in power, maintained a firm and consistent position of supporting India's stance on the Kashmir dispute. This alignment was notably distinct from the views often expressed by many other nations within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), where Pakistan frequently tried to advance its narrative. The Syrian government under Assad explicitly stated that the Kashmir issue was an internal affair for India, asserting New Delhi's sovereign right to resolve it without external interference or assistance. This supportive diplomatic posture was a key component of the otherwise friendly bilateral relationship between Delhi and Damascus, rooted in historical ties and shared geopolitical interests against certain regional narratives.

The continuity of this position was observed even after India's constitutional changes regarding Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Syria's envoy to New Delhi at that time affirmed that the government supported "any action" India took on its land to protect its people. India, in turn, reciprocated this diplomatic support by consistently backing Syria's legitimate right to reclaim the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The fall of the Assad regime, however, is widely discussed as a potential setback for India, as it signifies the loss of this key, reliable ally on the sensitive Kashmir issue in the Middle East.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bashar Al Assad's government consistently supported India's position on the Kashmir issue. He maintained that the dispute was an internal matter for India to resolve as it saw fit, without any external intervention. This stance was noted as being in contrast to the positions often taken by other OIC members.

Yes, the Assad regime voiced strong support for India's stance on Kashmir, considering it an internal affair of New Delhi. This support was part of a broader friendly diplomatic relationship where India also backed Syria's claim over the Golan Heights. This alignment has been viewed as beneficial for India in countering opposing narratives in international forums.

Under Bashar Al Assad, Syria treated the Kashmir issue as an issue exclusively for India and Pakistan to settle bilaterally. The Syrian government stated that New Delhi possessed the sovereign right to resolve the situation as it deemed necessary. This supportive stance has been described as a key feature of the historic India-Syria ties.