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Indian diplomat visits Syria

Indian diplomat visits Syria

News1829-07-2025
New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) An Indian diplomat has held meetings with Syrian ministers in Damascus in what appears to be India's first formal outreach to Syria's transitional government led by former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Suresh Kumar, director of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) division in the external affairs ministry, held meetings with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and Health Minister Musab Al-Ali, Syrian news agency SANA reported.
There is no official word yet on Kumar's visit to Syria.
Health Minister Musab Al-Ali held discussion with the Indian delegation headed by Kumar that focused on ways to enhance health cooperation, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, the report said.
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First Published:
July 29, 2025, 20:45 IST
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