National Security Adviser AK Doval fails to get any lead in 39 Indians kidnapped in Iraq

NEW DELHI: National Security Adviser AK Doval was on a quiet visit to Qatar mid-February with a hope to get some clarity on the fate of 39 Indians in Iraq following Doha's cooperation with Delhi to locate and secure release of the kidnapped Indians.

However, there is no clarity yet on the fate of the group of Indian workers who were kidnapped last June, notwithstanding NSA's discussions with the Qatari officials. India had approached several countries including Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia besides, Iran and Syria to locate the workers group. The efforts paid off when the nurses group were released and brought back home.

Last Saturday , Sushma Swaraj said though there was no proof of 39 Indians, being "dead or alive" but the sources indicate that they were alive and based on that government was making efforts to secure their release. The NSA, who met the Qatari Emir and handed over a letter from PM to visit India, was successful in getting Doha's help in securing the release of Father Prem Kumar in Afghanistan.

Qatar, which hosts Taliban leaders, had pulled strings and together with American and Afghanistan helped to secure release of the Jesuit.