Bashar al-Assad seeks India's help in reconstruction of Syria's economy

New Delhi: War-torn Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has sought India’s help in the reconstruction of his country’s economy. [caption id=“attachment_2874130” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] MJ Akbar. AFP[/caption] Assad said this on Saturday during a meeting with visiting Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar in capital city Damascus. “Both leaders acknowledged that terrorism was a global problem,” an official source said on Sunday. “Assad said as a growing power, India has a role to play in meeting the challenge of terrorism,” the source said. On his part, Akbar said the age of destruction should give way to reconstruction in Syria. “Assad invited India to play an active role in the reconstruction of the Syrian economy,” the source said. The Syrian president also welcomed India’s objective position on the conflict in Syria. There was an agreement between the two sides on further upgrading security consultations. Akbar is on the second leg of his three-nation West Asia tour from 17 August to 23 August. He earlier visited Lebanon and met Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. Akbar’s visit comes seven months after the visit of Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem to India, during which he sought India’s economic and political support. After Syria, Akbar will also visit the war-ridden country of Iraq.