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Syria is fighting war against Wahabism, says Ambassador

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Officers from US, UK, Turkey and Israel are helping terror groups, he alleges

Exclusive interview with APN

~By M. Ahmad Kazmi

Syria has been engaged in war against terrorist groups including Daesh (IS) and Nusra Front for last several years. It was preceded by anti President Bashar al-Assad protests widely covered by Arab media. Syrian Army, Iranian military advisors and Hezbollah fighters along with Russian Air force have almost been successful in demolishing Daesh (IS) Caliphate in recent months. Russia has also been supportive of Syrian government at international forums to reverse the whole narrative against Damascus.

Riad Kamel Abbas, the Syrian Ambassador to India is a very active diplomat in the capital. During his years in Delhi he has successfully strengthened friendly ties with Indian government and the people.

Ambassador Riad Kamel Abbas was kind enough to accept APN’s request for an exclusive interview. During the interview he described the ground situation and unveiled the conspiracies hatched by US, Israel and Saudi Arabia against his country. Here are the excerpts:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1509970872954{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #d3d3d3 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]What is the overall situation in war against terrorism in Syria?

Thank God, we have liberated 95% percent of our ground from terror groups which is under our army’s control. There are only few areas  like Al-Bukamal, parts of Raqqa and Idlib left for getting liberated. And of course there are few sleeper cells around. I am sure we will defeat them soon, may be before the end of this year.

What is the situation on Raqqa front ?

The Americans have deleted Raqqa from the map killing more than 100,000 civilians.  All the hostages in the prison were killed. Americans did not like our agencies to investigate and interrogate the people in Daesh custody.

I assure that American, British, Turkish and Israeli officers were leading the IS army on the ground that is why America sent their aircraft and take IS leaders and their officers and transported them from Syria to Myanmar, Afghanistan, Libya and other countries to create other problems. Daesh  top leader is under the American control.

US is now supporting its allies on the ground to conduct big battle against Syrian army on Iraq border. Their objective is to keep Syrian army away from their Iraqi counterparts. Their aim is to close the Syrian border with Iraq and stopping their access to Iran.

We are fighting against terrorism on behalf of the whole world. However, Iran, Russia and Hizbollah are on our side. Syrian army has taken its responsibility and is determined to liberate all Syrian territories from the enemies.

And in al-Bukamal, (near Iraq border) the city is under our army’s siege. America and their allies have been supporting the terrorists. I am sure that this area is filled with (army) officers from UK, US, Israel and important IS leaders. Some arrested IS leaders have accepted this during the interrogation.

America is behind any terrorist operation in the world. All terrorist operation are committed by people with Wahabi ideology of Saudi Arabia which is a US puppy.

That means Saudis follow US instructions and terror attacks were conducted by them. Even bomb blasts in America are done by their intelligence agencies to influence public opinion. Where there is American finger there is trouble in the world.

US creates problem in any country which is against American policy.  They are behind any terrorist group on earth. And they have created the problem in Myanmar.

What is Israeli role in Syria?  Recently there were Israeli airstrikes near Damascus?

Israel is behind all happenings in Arab countries. Israeli PM supports terror groups in Syria and especially on the Israeli border. All those terror groups are being helped by weapons, money and even their injured are being treated at hospitals in Tel Aviv. Their aim is to cut links between Iran and Syria.

But now time is changing. Now we are ready if Israel begins war we will respond with tough reaction. We have nothing to lose now. We have lost everything and that is the good time for us to make Israel crying and lose their infrastructure and their people in the Israeli territory. Now our army responds to every Israeli attack. And if Israel begins the war against Syria it will be the last war for Israel.

Now if war starts there will be no Israel on the map as there is consensus among Muslims because of the crazy Israeli policy in the area.

And you have seen that Hezbollah leader (Hasan Nasrullah) has recently announced that if war begins with Israel all Muslims will come for fighting  holy war against Zionists.

In 2012, American intelligence instructed to Bandar Bin Sultan, the former intelligence chief of Saudi Arabia to create sleeper cells in Myanmar. Bandar called Hafiz Taha from Myanmar for the purpose. The aim was to exert pressure on Myanmar and China. They wanted to move their focus from West Asia to East Asia for controlling mineral resources in those areas.

Is there any change in Qatar’s policy towards Syria after having trouble with Saudi Arabia?

After their trouble with Saudi Arabia Muhammed bin Jasim, former foreign minister of Qatar has recently admitted that they supported terror groups in Syria under American instructions and under the eyes of Turkish intelligence and funded by Saudi Arabia. He vindicated our position that the terror groups were not fighting for democracy. Now we don’t need to say what is happening in Syria. They are admitting themselves and accusing each other for supporting terror groups.

We will not forgive those who were involved in Syrian bloodshed. We will never forgive, maybe we forget, but never forgive.

Some people blame that your government has been involved in atrocities against majority Sunni community because of Iranian and Hezbollah influence?

This is a very sensitive issue. Generally I don’t speak on sectarian issues but I will give you an overview. Yes there are about 75% Sunnis in the country. Syria is a secular country and nobody speaks about sectarian issues. If our President is Alawite his wife is Sunni. Two deputy presidents belong to Sunni community. Prime minister, defense, foreign, and home ministers are all Sunnis. Twenty-five out of  30 ministers belong to Sunni community. How the government can fight against Sunni community. All sections of Syrian society have  in fact joined hands to fight against Wahabism.

If the opponents’ claim of sectarian war in the country, why they don’t support a free elections with their observers on the ground. If our president and army is against the majority Sunni community then President Bashar al-Assad will not win the election. Whey they don’t ask for free election in Syria?

All Syrian communities support President against Wahabism. That is why there is no sectarian or civil war in Syria. We are fighting against the foreigners who entered into Syria through Turkey to fight against our government. That means we are fighting against cross border terrorism. We are fighting against Saudi, Qatari and European people who are fighting against our government.

This is a big mistake analysts have committed regarding Syria.

The fighting in Syria is between Hanafi and Wahabi ideology. There is no civilian war or sectarian war. Our defense minister belongs to Sunni community from Hama city. In fact Sunni people are fighting against Wahabi terrorists.

Having passed through war-like situation since 2011, how international community is behaving with Syria?

In the beginning there was some confusion among world leaders. It was considered as if it was a pro-democracy movement. At that time more than 100 countries were against Syrian government. But now they have discovered they the situation was otherwise. Now there are only two-three countries with Wahabi ideaology who can’t come back.  What they will tell to their own people? Now we are in good position and enjoy  support from BRICS countries.

Recently Chief of European intelligence visited Syria begging cooperation from our intelligence. He asked us not to allow their citizens to return home, instead finish them on the ground. Against this favor he offered all help. Now situation is improving and we are close to achieve our goal.

What about India ? Did India cooperating with Syria by sharing intelligence or some other means during Syria’s tough time?

We have cordial relations with India since the independence of our country. There is good cooperation between the two countries including intelligence. But I am not going into the details. Indian stand about Syrian issue was very good and valuable. India has been very clear in asking resolution of the issue by Syrians and favoring political solution without external intervention. That is enough for us. If all countries behave like India we will have no problem in Syria. We thank India for keeping its Ambassador and mission open in Damascus. For other countries time is gone. That is why we prefer India than others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Thick smog engulfs Delhi, flights and trains delayed as air quality slips to very poor

Delhi remained under a thick smog cover as air quality dipped into the very poor category, causing delays in flights and train services due to low visibility.

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A dense blanket of smog covered Delhi on Saturday morning, pushing air quality into the ‘very poor’ category and disrupting flight and train operations across the national capital and adjoining areas. Reduced visibility due to smog led to delays in air and rail traffic, while authorities warned that pollution levels could worsen further in the coming days.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 380, placing it in the ‘very poor’ bracket. Visuals from Bhairav Marg near Pragati Maidan showed motorists using headlights during early hours, as visibility remained low. At around 7 am, the AQI at this location stood at 433.

Nearly half of Delhi’s air quality monitoring stations reported ‘severe’ pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 428 with PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant, while Jahangirpuri reported an AQI of 425.

Transport services hit by low visibility

Flight operations at Delhi airport were impacted due to low visibility conditions. The airport issued an advisory asking passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information, as low visibility procedures were in place. Runway visibility was reported to be between 800 and 1,200 metres.

Live flight tracking data showed multiple flights running behind schedule. One airline also warned passengers about possible disruptions at several airports in northern and eastern India, including Delhi, due to dense fog conditions. Travellers were advised to verify flight status before heading to the airport, with options offered on select flights to reschedule or seek refunds without additional charges.

Rail services were also affected, with more than 30 trains running late by an average of three to four hours. Some long-distance trains reported delays of over six to eight hours, causing inconvenience to passengers travelling to and from the capital.

Air quality likely to worsen

The weather department had earlier forecast dense to very dense fog at isolated places over Delhi and several parts of north and central India. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, pollution levels are expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday and may slip into the ‘severe’ category on Sunday and Monday. In view of the deteriorating conditions, an ‘orange’ alert has been issued for Saturday.

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PM Modi inaugurates India’s first nature-themed airport terminal in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new nature-themed terminal at Guwahati airport, the largest in Northeast India, built around bamboo, orchids and regional heritage.

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PM modi in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati today, marking a major milestone for aviation infrastructure in the Northeast. Built at an estimated cost of around Rs 4,000 crore, the facility is being projected as the largest airport terminal in the region and a key boost to connectivity, tourism and economic activity in Assam.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Guwahati around 3 pm as part of his two-day visit to the state.

Northeast’s largest airport terminal takes shape in Guwahati

The newly constructed terminal is nearly seven times larger than the existing one and has been designed to cater to the region’s rapidly growing air traffic. Once fully operational, it is expected to handle up to 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032.

Officials said the terminal is planned as a regional connectivity hub, with a focus on strengthening air links between India and Southeast Asia. The airport will be capable of handling up to 34 air traffic movements per hour, the highest capacity among airports in the Northeast. The facility will also be equipped with one of the most advanced Instrument Landing Systems to support safer and more efficient operations.

Nature-inspired design rooted in Assam’s identity

What sets the Guwahati terminal apart is its distinctive nature-themed architecture. Conceptualised under the theme “Bamboo Orchids”, it is being described as India’s first airport terminal inspired entirely by natural and cultural elements.

The interiors draw from the landscapes of Northeast India, with design elements reflecting indigenous orchids, locally known as Kopou Phool, and the flow of the Brahmaputra river. The terminal incorporates more than 2,000 species of plants, includes a dedicated zone inspired by Kaziranga National Park, and features artefacts representing Majuli Island.

A key architectural highlight is the expansive bamboo vault, created using around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo. The space has been envisioned as a multifunctional cultural centre aimed at encouraging community interaction and showcasing the region’s heritage. Design elements such as japi motifs, the iconic rhino symbol and 57 orchid-inspired columns further reinforce the cultural narrative.

Arriving passengers will also experience a unique “Sky Forest”, featuring nearly one lakh plants of indigenous species, designed to create an immersive forest-like ambience within the terminal.

Focus on digital integration and passenger convenience

Spread over nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, the integrated new terminal has been designed to handle around 1.3 crore passengers annually. It is supported by significant upgrades to the runway, airfield systems, aprons and taxiways.

The terminal places strong emphasis on digital integration, with 14 entry points, including four DigiYatra gates, aimed at easing passenger movement. Facilities such as full-body scanners for non-intrusive security checks, automated baggage handling systems, fast-track immigration and AI-driven airport operations have been incorporated to ensure smoother travel experiences.

Other engagements during PM Modi’s Assam visit

During his two-day stay, the Prime Minister will also lay foundation stones for multiple development projects and address public gatherings. He is scheduled to visit the Swahid Smarak Kshetra to pay tribute to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement.

Later in the day, PM Modi will perform the bhoomipujan for a new brownfield Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project at Namrup in Dibrugarh district, within the existing premises of the Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited.

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Assam train accident: Eight elephants killed after Rajdhani Express derailment in Hojai

Eight elephants were killed after the Rajdhani Express collided with a herd in Assam’s Hojai district, causing multiple coaches to derail and disrupting train services.

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At least eight elephants were killed and a calf was injured after a herd collided with the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district, leading to the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches early Saturday. Railway officials confirmed that no passengers were injured in the incident.

Forest department officials said the collision occurred when the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express struck a herd of elephants on the tracks. The impact caused multiple coaches to derail, disrupting rail traffic on the busy route connecting the Northeast with the national capital.

Train services hit, passengers shifted to other coaches

Following the derailment, rail movement towards Upper Assam and other parts of the Northeast was affected due to damaged coaches and elephant remains scattered on the tracks. Accident relief trains and senior railway officials rushed to the site to restore services.

Passengers travelling in the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths in other coaches of the same train. Officials said that once the train reaches Guwahati, additional coaches will be attached to ensure all passengers can continue their journey.

Collision occurred outside designated elephant corridor

According to officials, the accident took place at a location that is not marked as a designated elephant corridor. The loco pilot reportedly applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd on the tracks, but the elephants ran into the train, resulting in the collision and derailment.

Forest authorities confirmed that eight elephants died on the spot, while one injured calf was rescued. Local residents said the herd consisted of around eight elephants at the time of the accident.

Elephant deaths in train accidents remain a concern

The incident comes amid continued concerns over wildlife deaths on railway tracks. Data shared by the Environment Ministry in Parliament earlier showed that at least 79 elephants have died in train collisions across India over the past five years, based on reports from states and Union Territories.

The ministry has said that several preventive steps are being taken in coordination with the Railways, including speed restrictions in elephant habitats, use of sensor-based detection systems, and construction of underpasses, ramps and fencing at vulnerable locations. Guidelines and capacity-building programmes have also been introduced to reduce human-animal conflict along railway lines.

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