External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj holds meeting with Ambassadors of Gulf countries in New Delhi on Sunday
The Indian government has stepped up efforts to evacuate its nationals from violence-torn Iraq where 39 Indians were kidnapped and are being held captive. Official sources said three Air India planes are on standby and ready to leave for Iraq at short notice to bring back Indians.
As crisis in Iraq crisis escalates, it was busy and a tense Sunday at the Ministry of External Affairs, starting with a high-level meeting between minister Sushma Swaraj and India's envoys to the Gulf countries. (
Iraq Crisis: Assistance Camps Set Up For Indian Nationals)
Ms Swaraj sought their assessment of the situation in Iraq and how best the envoys could they help from their respective countries to facilitate the return of close to 10,000 Indians from there.
Apart from the Indian envoys, Ambassadors of Gulf countries posted in India also attended the meeting to give their inputs on how to rescue the Indians trapped in Iraq. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and officials of the National Crisis Management Committee were also present.
"The Red Crescent had spoken to the people there and written to us saying that they are safe," Ms Swaraj said.
She also met the families of those who have been kidnapped and assured them that the government was taking all steps for the safety and evacuation of their kith and kin.
The government has decided to send two teams to Baghdad, in addition to the nine already at work in three Iraqi cities namely Basra, Najaf and Karbala.
The government also said that it was in touch with the 46 Indian nurses stranded in the militant stronghold of Tikrit and that they were unharmed.
"We have made contact with them. They are unharmed, they needed some funds and that has been provided. We are in a state of readiness for whatever is needed," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
Iraq is witnessing serious strife with Sunni militants, backed by the Al Qaeda, marching towards the capital Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting that broke out on June 10.