Several British academics and journalists are attending a conference organised by President Bashar al-Assad’s father-in-law in the Syrian capital of Damascus, in a move which has been called a “mistake” by anti-regime critics.

The two-day conference, which begins on Sunday, will discuss the “ramifications of the war in Syria”.

Liberal Democrats peer Raymond Asquith, or Lord Oxford, former special forces officer Major General John Holmes, and research analyst Kamal Alam of think tank Rusi, are among those expected to speak alongside Syrian government representatives.

Journalists for international media outlets were also invited to attend.

It has been organised by the London-based British Syrian Society's founder Fawaz Akhras, the father of Mr Assad's wife Asma, who has kept a low media profile since war broke out in country in 2011, but used to regularly organise conferences and talks between Syrian and UK politicians.

Several analysts on the war in Syria have criticised those who have chosen to take part in the weekend’s workshop, which has been dubbed a "PR exercise" by Chris Doyle of the Council for British-Arab Understanding (Caabu).

“The regime is trying to energise its public diplomacy and public outreach in Britain. They are trying to maintain this is a neutral conference. It’s simply not. The speakers are senior regime figures, plus others who are extremely supportive,” he told The Guardian.

Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Show all 16 1 /16 Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo A girl who fled areas of conflict rides a vehicle in Dahiyet al-Assad, west Aleppo city, Syria REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel fighters from the Jaish al-Fatah (or Army of Conquest) brigade have a tea in a building under construction Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo A rebel fighters' armoured vehicle in Dahiyet al-Assad Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel fighters from the Jaish al-Fatah (or Army of Conquest) brigades sit on a tank Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Abandoned magazine of shells after rebel fighters took control of Dahiyet al-Assad Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel fighters ride a pick-up truck with civilians who fled areas of conflict in Dahiyet al-Assad, west Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo A rebel fighter gestures with a girl who fled areas of conflict while they ride a pick-up truck in Dahiyet al-Assad Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Smoke rises near a damaged road in Dahiyet al-Assad, west Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Syrians carry their belongings as they leave the southwestern frontline neighbourhood of Dahiyet al-,Assad Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo A view shows a damaged minaret of a mosque after rebel fighters took control of Dahiyet al-Assad, Syria Reuters Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel groups have pledged to push from newly captured positions in the Dahiyet al-Assad district towards Hamdaniyeh. Rebels and allied jihadists launched a major offensive on October 28, 2016 to break through government lines and reach the 250,000 people living in the city's east Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel groups have pledged to push from newly captured positions in the Dahiyet al-Assad district towards Hamdaniyeh Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Rebel fighters from the Jaish al-Fatah (or Army of Conquest) brigades hold a position at an entrance to Aleppo, in the southwestern frontline neighbourhood of Dahiyet al-Assad Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Smoke billows from the frontline district of Dahiyet al-Assad following an attack by rebels on Syrian regime forces in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo Syrians carry their belongings as they leave the southwestern frontline neighbourhood of Dahiyet al-Assad Getty Dahiyet al-Assad - Aleppo People who fled areas of conflict ride a pick-up truck in Dahiyet al-Assad, west Aleppo city, Syria Reuters

“The British delegates are merely reinforcing the regime's narrative that it's business as usual as they [the regime] carpet-bomb Aleppo and other Syrian cities. It's wrong to take part. If you are involved in track two diplomacy, fine. If you are going on some sort of propaganda conference, no way,” Mr Doyle added.

The Independent has attempted to contact Mr Asquith, Major General Holmes and Mr Alam for comment. When asked by The Guardian, the Liberal Democrats said they were unaware of Mr Asquith’s trip.

Syrian government buses picked up delegates in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Saturday to drive the short 70 mile (115 kilometre) journey over the border to Damascus. It was unclear at the time of publication whether flights, food and accommodation were being provided by Syrian authorities or by delegates themselves.

The Syrian civil war - now in its sixth year - has left more than 400,000 people dead and created four million refugees, the UN says.

President Assad is currently in the middle of a campaign to retake the last major urban rebel strongholds in the northern city of Aleppo, with the help of Russian air strikes.