New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Arif Khan, India's ambassador in Italy, died in Rome Tuesday, officials said. He was 58.

Khan, who was suffering from lung cancer, is survived by his wife Farida and two sons.

He had served earlier as India's ambassador in Syria, deputy chief of mission in Paris and as the official spokesman of the external affairs ministry. Before he went to Rome, he was additional secretary (public diplomacy).

The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) is meeting at 5 p.m. this evening to mourn his death.