New Delhi: The government yesterday said it will facilitate the return of over 600 Indians from non-conflict areas of Iraq this week, as efforts continued to secure the safe release of Indians in captivity in war-torn areas of the Gulf nation.
“Departure of more than 600 Indian nationals will be facilitated during this week,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
Asked about the situation in the wake of reports that insurgent group Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria) declaring its leader as caliph, Akbaruddin said India was prepared to knock on every door to secure release of its citizens. “We are ready to knock on all doors. We are knocking on front doors, back doors and trap doors,” he said.
The spokesperson said the 39 Indian nationals held captive in Mosul were unharmed.
Suspected militants of Isis have overrun Mosul and Tikrit, the hometown of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Akbaruddin said the government has started a “pro-active approach” to facilitate the return of its citizens from Iraq and the country’s diplomats were reaching out to Indians at their places of residence in the Gulf nation and advising them to return in view of the prevailing situation.
He said Indians were leaving non-conflict zones on commercial flights. “We are in the facilitation phase,” he said.
IANS
