MOFA activates crisis management unit for Pakistanis in Syria

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to facilitate Pakistani nationals in Syria amid clashes between Syria’s military and rebel forces.

According to a press release issued by the ministry on Saturday, the decision was taken “in view of the ongoing developments and evolving situation in Syria”. 

Syrian rebels battled government forces for control of the key city of Homs on Saturday and advanced towards the capital Damascus as front lines collapsed across the country, throwing President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule into the balance, Reuters reported.

Since the rebels’ sweep into Aleppo a week ago, government defences have crumbled at dizzying speed as insurgents seized a string of major cities and rose up in places where the rebellion had long seemed over.

The twin threats to strategically vital Homs and the capital Damascus now pose an existential danger to the Assad dynasty’s five-decade reign over Syria and the continued influence there of its main regional backer Iran.

State television reported that the insurgents had not penetrated into Homs although it said they were on the city outskirts, where it said the military was striking them with artillery and drones.

Insurgents have seized almost the entire southwest within 24 hours, and they have advanced to within 30 km (20 miles) of Damascus as government forces fell back, rebels said.

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On Friday, the MOFA issued a travel advisory, urging Pakistan nationals to avoid visiting or traveling to Syria amid the worsening security crisis.

The ministry has encouraged Pakistani nationals in Syria and their families to contact the CMU at the following telephone/Email:

Phone number: 051-9207887

Email: cmu1@mofa.gov.pk

Meanwhile the Pakistan Embassy in Damascus remains actively engaged to facilitate Pakistani nationals in Syria, the press release said.

The MOFA also provided contact details of the Embassy:

Phone numbers: +963 987 127 822, +963 990 138 972

Email: parepdamascus@mofa.gov.ok