Strict neutrality: India–Syria relations in light of crisis

Syria is witnessing a number of threats and challenges
along the same lines with the operations of liberating certain areas from the
possession of terrorist groups.
The operations take place with the aim to reunite
internal efforts for Syria’s post-war reconstruction and regain stability with
the help of some local and international strategic allies, like India.
The Syrian government has invited India to take part
in the reconstruction process by granting it some facilitations, such as taxes relaxations.
Moreover, New Delhi is taking part at the Damascus International Fair, which
kicked off Sept. 6 and will last until Sept. 15.
India’s Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj will lead the
Indian delegation to Syria to take part at the joint business committee meeting
in addition to taking part at the fair.
In early August 2018, the Syrian ambassador to India
invited Indian companies, investors and businesses to help rebuilding his
war-torn Syria. “Syria was able to defeat terrorists and all the conspiracies
against Syria. Now we are planning to rebuild Syria and we are looking for help
from our friends, especially India.”
In this context, and in addition to the Russian and
Iranian support to the Syrian airstrikes against terrorist cells, Syria was
able to reclaim many Syrian lands from the grip of terrorist organizations.
The India-Syria relations
India and Syria have strong and historic relations
that got polished after India’s independence. Relations between the two
countries date back to 1948 when Syria, as a member at the Security Council,
supported Pakistan in the Kashmir cause, based on Egypt’s request at the time.
In return, India recognized Israel as a state in 1950, arousing resentment among
Arabs.
With the rise of Arab nationalism, and Egyptian former
president Gamal Abdel-Nasser’s support to the Non-Aligned Movement, relations
and cooperation between India and Arab countries, especially Syria,
significantly improved.
But even with this, new partnerships were sought by
former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad, away from the Middle East, in order to
encounter Syria’s regional isolation that was resulted through competition with
Israel and Gulf states.
During this era, New Delhi found it to be much easier
to deal with Damascus, therefore, India agree with Syria on many political
cases that are still being raised until now. This is in addition to Syria’s support
to India in the Kashmir cause, despite not being of power in the region,
however, the step was welcomed.
India’s stand on the Syrian crisis
New Delhi adopted a certain approach towards the Arab
revolutions in consistence with its national interests that aim at achieving
internal stability, all in parallel with achieving its aims of sustainable
development.
As the Syrian revolution sparked, turning into an
armed conflict, India attempted to deal with the crisis with wisdom and
moderation through the ongoing diplomatic relations between the two countries.
However, India does not plan to appoint a new ambassador to Syria at the
meantime, considering this step to be “extremely dangerous.”
India have long sought to introduce itself as an
important ally and partner to Damascus in a certain period after the war; it
began taking part in the reconstruction plans, like in May 2014, when the
Indian Chamber of Commerce dispatched a delegation of businessmen to discuss
potential business opportunities between the two countries.
For its part, the Syrian government have also been
shedding the light on India’s potential role in the reconstruction process
following the civil war.
Also, India kept its silence regarding the April 4,
2017 chemical attack that was carried out on the rebel-held town of Khan
Sheikhoun in Syria, which resulted the killing of around 85 civilians
(including 20 children), as an indication to India’s “balanced” stand on the
ongoing civil war crisis.
In this regard, the Indian government, headed by Prime
Minister of India, chose not to get involved “directly” or “indirectly” in
Syria’s internal affair, while still supporting the Syrian regime, to avoid the
spread of chaos and instability in Syria, like the situation in Libya. In
return, India supported the presence of Damascus in the 2018 New Delhi
conference.
It is pertinent to mention that India, which Syria
considers a “quiet ally”, has called for negotiation and dialogue in Syria that
are consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in
conformity with international law, in order to avoid escalation.
Foundations of India’s relation with Syria
India has pursued an external policy of not allying
with nor targeting other countries and regions, despite following more
principle of openness; the Indian-Syrian relation is based on several
foundations:
1- Preserving national security; as India
believes that a popular unrest in the region would negatively affect its
affairs, and it also fears an infiltration by extremists to its lands.
2- Protection of energy security; India seeks
to protect its security in the energy field, away from international conflicts,
lest prices of global energy become unstable and affect its economy and
development.
3- India’s national interest; India adopts
external policies that are coherent with its national interest, therefore, it
seeks to maintain the current situations, away from chaos and instability, to
insure an ongoing flow of money from Indian labor in the region.
4- Building balanced relations; India is trying
to protect its interests in the Gulf region, so it remained neutral regarding
the revolutions in some Arab states.
5- Rapprochement with the Islamic world; New
Delhi is taking advantage of the conflict in the Arab region to carefully get
closer to Syria. It aims to get out of the isolation state that was imposed by countries
that are taking Pakistan’s side in the Kashmir case; especially after losing
two of its most important allies, namely Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi.
Relations between India and Syria will likely keep
their steady and calm pace, which supports India’s national strategy in the
Arab region, especially with the anticipated 2019 legislative election. The
relation between India and Syria are of a pragmatic nature with geostrategic
dimensions; both two countries allies with each other to balance their
relations with other international powers.
References:
1- “India’s growing interests in Syria” - Asharq
Al-Awsat (issue. 14524), Sept. 3, 2018: http://cutt.us/2iqoB
2- "Syrian
ambassador invites Indian companies to rebuild war-torn country", the
times of India, 1/8/2018. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/syria-invites-indian-companies-to-rebuild-war-torn-country/articleshow/65234190.cms
3- KETAN
MEHTA, "Understanding India’s response to the Syrian civil
war”, Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/research/understanding_india_response_syrian_civil_war/#_edn25
4- Surya
Rajkumar, " Why India’s Silence On The Chemical Attack In Syria Is Deeply
Worrying", 17/4/2017. https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2017/04/where-does-india-stand-in-terms-of-the-syrian-civil-war/
5- "Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, "India
distances itself from military strikes in Syria", The economic times,
26/7/2018. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-distances-itself-from-military-strikes-in-syria/articleshow/63763279.cms