Even as India “knocks all doors” for early release of its kidnapped construction workers, 16 workers were evacuated from Baiji and Anbar cities of violence-torn Iraq. They are now in Baghdad and will be shortly flown to India. Indian authorities are also in touch with the 46 nurses, who are reported to be safe.
The Indian government is reworking the visa regime with the Iraqi Government so that Indians can be allowed to leave from the nearest land border or port. The Government has also stopped granting emigration clearances for Iraq for at least one month or till the time situation demands. This was done noticing that the flow of traffic was continuing even though there was an advisory against travel to Iraq.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, facing his first foreign policy challenge, on Friday held a meeting of top officials of Government’s security agencies and Foreign Ministery to take stock of Indian efforts for release and rescue of kidnapped and stranded Indians. “The matter remains highest priority of the Government. PM reviewed the entire dimensions of the safety of Indian nationals in Iraq taking into consideration all facts that we now have available with us as well as piecing together the information that is coming to us from multiple sources. We have credible information that the kidnapped Indians are safe and we are making efforts to resolve the matter at the earliest,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
He said that India is using all channels to talk with those who can help in the early release of the kidnapped Indians. “We are knocking all doors — front, back and trap. As diplomats it is our duty to knock the front door but we are also knocking the other doors as well. We are talking to all who can help, including those outside Iraq,” the spokesperson said hinting at back-channel talks with other countries and various agencies.
The meeting was also attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretray Ajit Sethi, IB and RA&W chiefs, Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh, Secretary (East) in the MEA dealing with the matter Anil Wadhwa.
Meanwhile, the Indian officials are reworking the present visa regime with the Iraqi authorities to allow stranded Indians to exit Iraq from the border closest to them. Iraq has single port entry-exit visa regime which means anyone who enters Iraq from a port/city has to return from the same port. This has caused some concern to Indians in Iraq who want to leave from the nearest port of exit or from boundary. “The matter has been taken up with Iraqi foreign Ministery officials who are amenable and the issue is likely to be sorted out in coming days,” spokesperson said. All the Indian missions in the region of all the bordering countries have been informed these Indians should be assisted in documentations etc if they want to cross by land.
The Government will provide monetary help to Indians stranded in Iraq if they want to want to return. Indian mission in Baghdad has been asked to assist those who want to leave the region even from areas where security is not tenuous as yet. “Any Indian national who is indigent and who desires to return but is unable to pay for his tickets, will be assisted through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in Iraq by the Indian mission there,” Akbaruddin said.