Looking for intelligence sharing with India: Syria

Syria on Wednesdaty 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 ISIS militants 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," Maoulem told reporters at a news conference here.

"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," he said. 

On Tuesday, Swaraj had conveyed to Maoulem that India was sending medicines worth $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.