Around 300 Pakistani pilgrims stranded in Syria
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, around 300 Pakistani pilgrims have been stranded in Syria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that as soon as the Damascus airport reopens, the repatriation of Pakistanis will begin.
According to media, Pakistani pilgrim Syed Ilyas Naqvi mentioned that since yesterday, they have been confined to their hotel, and food supplies have run out. He added that the Pakistani embassy is providing full cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Pakistani citizens in Syria to exercise caution. In a statement, the Ministry assured that as soon as Damascus airport opens, efforts for repatriation will commence. It confirmed that all Pakistani citizens in Syria are safe, and the embassy remains open to assist them. The embassy staff is in contact with the citizens and pilgrims.
It is reported that after the 24-year rule of President Bashar al-Assad ended, he fled Syria with his family and arrived in Russia. According to Russian news agencies, Kremlin sources confirmed that Bashar al-Assad and his family were granted political asylum in Russia on humanitarian grounds.
Earlier, the Syrian military command had informed officers that the government of Bashar al-Assad had fallen after rebel attacks. Syrian rebels declared that “Damascus is now free from Assad.” Two senior military officers informed Reuters that Bashar al-Assad had left Damascus for an unknown location on Sunday, as rebels claimed to have entered the capital and no signs of military deployment were observed.
Eyewitnesses reported that thousands of people gathered in the central square of Damascus, waving their hands and shouting “freedom.” The rebels celebrated the release of prisoners and the end of what they termed “the era of injustice” in the world’s largest military prison, Sednaya, located near Damascus, where the Syrian government had detained thousands of individuals.
