As crisis unfolds, India pushes for stability in Syria

THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY NOTED THAT IT WAS MONITORING THE EVOLVING SITUATION IN THE WEST ASIAN COUNTRY AND ADVOCATED FOR PEACE

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India on Monday joined other countries in calling for stability in Syria after opposition forces overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, with New Delhi urging all stakeholders to preserve the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Assad fled Syria on Sunday in the face of a lightning offensive led by a rebel group dominated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was previously associated with al-Qaeda. The rebel fighters entered the capital Damascus unopposed, ending the Assad family's rule of more than five decades.

The external affairs ministry noted that it was monitoring the evolving situation in the West Asian country and said in a statement: "We underline the need for all parties to work towards preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria."