India steps up rescue operations in Iraq; EAM to hold meeting on June 29

New Delhi: The government on Saturday announced setting up mobile camps led by Indian diplomats in the non-conflict zones in northern and southern Iraq to assist members of the 10,000-strong Indian community who are willing to return home. Led by seven Indian diplomats from the region, officials at three mobile camps in Basra, Najaf and Karbala will meet the Indian community and assist those who wish to return with travel documents, air tickets and contractual issues with the employers, according to external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

In Najaf the Indian diplomats are available at (00964) 7716511190/ 11181; In Karbala they are available at (00964) 7716511180/7716511176 and at Basra the officials are available at (00964) 7716511182/7716511178. Akbaruddin said the government, which was working with various international partners to rescue kidnapped Indians from the conflict zone of Mosul, has some leads but he did not divulge the details. There were less than 100 Indians in the conflict zone in Iraq, and those held captive in Mosul were unharmed, he informed. “We are extremely careful and pursuing the matter step by step,” Akbaruddin said.

He said contingency steps were being worked out to help Indian nationals. “It is a national endeavour to help the Indians in captivity. All national assets will be in readiness if required. The Indian envoys of the six Gulf countries will be tomorrow at a meeting convened by the foreign minister. They will be joined by envoys of the Gulf countries based in India,” Akbaruddin said. He said the 46 Indian nurses in Tikrit were fine.