U.S. President Donald Trump was set to meet Syria's president in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following a surprise announcement that the United States would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government despite lingering concerns about its leaders' former ties to Al Qaeda.

Some have even attacked India's top diplomat Vikram Misri, accusing him of being a "traitor" Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Pakistan on Tuesday declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission here "persona non grata" after India expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for allegedly indulging in espionage.

Mohammad Iqbal was working the nightshift at a power plant when he got a frantic call from his family saying artillery shells were exploding around their home.

A series of military strikes last week by India and Pakistan brought the nuclear-armed rivals closer to a broader war.

India said its long-standing position on Kashmir has been that it is a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad and there is no change of this stand.

With last-minute U.S. mediation, cooler heads prevailed between India and Pakistan. But a flare-up is inevitable.