Indian government has said it is closely watching situation in Iraq and efforts were on to bring back kidnapped 41 Indian labourers.
New Delhi, July 25/Nationalturk – Indian government has said it was concerned over situation in Iraq and efforts were on to bring back kidnapped 41 Indian labourers.
“The Indian government is concerned over the recent developments in Iraq and safety and security of Indian nationals stranded in Iraq,” India’s external affairs minister told lawmakers in Lok Sabha, lower house of India parliament.
The minister said Indian government remains deeply concerned with the ongoing conflict and deteriorating security scenario in Iraq, resulting out of sudden attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS).
The speed with which ISIS began their attacks on June 8 June captured several cities in Northern and Central Iraq including Mosul and Tikrit took everyone by surprise. Since then, the security situation in Iraq has remained critical and fragile.
‘22000 Indians were in Iraq when conflict started’
The minister said an estimated 22000 Indians were in Iraq at the onset of the conflict. “This included 500 in Baghdad, 2300 in Najaf, 1000 in Karbala, 3000 in Basra, 15000 in Kurdistan and 200 in other cities”. Some Indians got trapped in the conflict areas following these sudden attacks.
“A group of 46 nurses working in a local hospital in Tikrit got stuck due to the conflict. On July 3, they were taken to Mosul by an unidentified group and next day they were released and a special Air India flight was arranged on the same day to bring them back to India,” the minister said.
A group of about 41 Indian nationals working in a construction company in Mosul were taken captives by an unidentified group.
“Indian government is making all efforts and taking all steps to secure their release and bring them back to country,” the minister said adding safety and security of Indian nationals in captivity in Mosul is a matter of foremost concern for them.
Indian government has been closely monitoring the security situation in Iraq and issuing revised travel advisories for its nationals on travelling to conflict-hit Iraq.
On June 19, Indian nationals were advised to avoid all travel to Iraq, until further notification and a ban was imposed by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs on emigration to Iraq by ECR category travellers.
‘Indian nationals advised to leave Iraq’
“We have reiterated our advice to our nationals in Iraq to leave the country by commercial means if it is safe to do so. Our nationals living in areas affected by the ongoing armed conflict have been advised to stay indoors as far as possible and to remain in contact with our Embassy in Baghdad for necessary guidance and updated information on the evolving security situation. Those Indian nationals, who do not have travel documents or need other consular services like air tickets, help with immigration clearances have been advised to seek assistance from our Embassy in Baghdad,” the minister further said.
The minister further said as of July 22, over 4,000 Indian nationals have been provided assistance for travelling back to India, including air tickets to over 3,000 nationals.
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