Syria’s economy has been fluctuating, and the relations between Pakistan and Syria have been very good in the past, although Hafiz al-Assad Ex. President of Syria was more inclined towards the Soviet Union, while Pakistan has been close to the United States and its allies from the beginning, but still The two countries have been close, especially Pakistan, has been and still is supporting the Arab world on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the issue of Palestine.
Israel has recently carried out a series of bombings in the Middle East, particularly in the border areas of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, causing heavy casualties. In this conflict, Israel has enjoyed the full support of the United States. The United States targeted the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani with a missile in Iraq, while Israel killed many important people of Iran with missile technology, the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the capital of Syria, was targeted, and then the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh. He did not even hesitate to kill him in Tehran. After talking to Pakistanis living in Damascus, they realized that many important Iranian people in Syria have been targeted by Israel’s attacks.
Syrian journalists are seen commenting freely on Israel’s existence. They say that the existence of Israel is not legitimate, because it was not a country, and people were brought here who bought land and settled and then occupied it by force and established a government, supported by the United States and other Western countries. The Syrian people called Israel , occupied force and the people of Israel are named Settlers.This is a complete Narrative of Syria regarding Israel. There is a lot of discussion and debate in the Muslim world regarding the recognition of Israel, many Muslim leaders have recognized it while some have started speaking openly in support of it. Arab countries had started to establish diplomatic relations, but after the massacre that Israel has carried out in Gaza for the past one year, its honor has been lost in Muslim countries and many other countries. Where even new born babies are being killed. Israel recently bombed the Lebanese leader Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to eternal sleep, which has also been mourned in Pakistan. By going to different places in the city of Damascus and meeting with many important figures, it was clear that the people have been fighting a long war, and they are not ready to turn away from this war. Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have been and continue to be the direct targets of Israel’s war operations, Iran is also an affected country, Russia’s forces are also in Syria, but Iran’s casualties are the same.
Israel has superiority in air war due to US support, its air force is efficient and its air defense system is also supported by US, but Syria and Lebanon are capable of countering it in ground war. At this time, the region has suffered from severe difficulties, Israel’s attack on Lebanon in which Hassan Nasrallah and his associates were targeted, after which Iran also launched missiles and according to media reports, about two hundred missiles were launched. It is difficult to fully estimate the loss of Israel in these attacks because no media organization is able to report freely from Tel Aviv. While the Israeli military agencies have prohibited the public from taking pictures with mobile phones of the places where Iranian missiles have been dropped.
In this war in the Middle East, if Israel was not supported by the United States, Great Britain and European countries, it could not establish a wide espionage network and its military power could not be so strong. Thanks to the support and aid of these countries, he does not allow the Arab countries to gain superiority even though they are less in population. Israel is successful in doing heavy damage to Arab and Iran on this basis.
Syria’s economy has been struggling since the civil war. Exports and imports have fallen sharply, Syria relying mostly on aid that is being given to them by several UN subsidiaries.
There used to be trade with Pakistan in many sectors, including textiles, but after 2016 it declined sharply and now exports were worth $2.95 million last year. Imports were also badly affected, with Pakistan’s share of Syria’s imports of $4.5 billion negligible. Syria’s trade is mostly with Turkia, China, UAE, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Italy and Germany.
The olive harvest is good, Syria is mainly an agricultural country. They try to earn foreign exchange by exporting olive oil, but the farming system has been severely affected by the civil war with ISIS, forcing many farmers families to migrate. At this time, in many countries of the world, Syrian refugees are trying to maintain the relationship of body and soul. In many countries, refugees are forced to beg.
I was agreed to go to Morocco, where many Syrian refugees were seen begging in Rabat and Casablanca, which was very regrettable. Turkeia has a large number of Syrian refugees. Currently, almost half of Syria’s population has been displaced and many are unemployed, while those who are employed receive very little monthly pay. Keeping in mind the hunger and poverty in Syria, Pakistan should start a series of relief food in the name of “Rice Diplomacy” for the pilgrims who visit Hazrat Zainab bint Ali Amirul Momineen’s shrine in Damascus, if each pilgrim carries at least five kilos with him. If a bag of rice is taken as a gift, it will be a great service to the people of Syria.
Syria is in dire need of all kinds of supplies and projects to rebuild its infrastructure. Pakistan should support the young generation of Syria in higher education through Damascus University, there is a lot of talent in the young generation but their problems have increased due to the current situation. Football is one of the most popular sports in Syria as in other Arab countries, although football is not a popular sport in Pakistan, but in the city of Sialkot, Pakistan, sports equipment is being produced of very high quality, while footballs are also produced. In this regard, cooperation between the two countries can be established.
Pakistan and Syria have great potential for cooperation in the future, but for now, Pakistan should work on launching joint projects to help Syria. This is the path that will be beneficial for both nations in the future.
