India: No information about missing Indians in Iraq

By APD Writer Rishika Chauhan

**NEW DELHI, July 26 (APD) ** --The Iraqi foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari recently informed that the government has “no substantial information” about 39 Indians taken hostage by the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Mosul in 2014.

Speaking to the media, Al-Jaafari, who is on a official visit to India said, “We have no substantial evidence that the Indians were killed or they are still alive, so we cannot give anything in that regard.”

He added, the Iraqi government, was as concerned about the Indians as the Indian government was. Sushma Swaraj, the Indian foreign minister had discussed the issue with him and his government had promised to continue their efforts to locate and rescue the kidnapped Indians.

Minister Sushma Swaraj with family members of the 39 missing Indian

“We will continue to follow-up on this subject as if they were alive, this is what we must believe,” he said, explaining that the IS often circulates information that is “untrue”.

“In such an atmosphere, we are unable to give a certain date by when this issue is going to be resolved. The Iraqi security forces are very ardent about finding all of those who were taken, whether they are Iraqis, Indians or other nationalities. They are very serious and keen to preserve their lives,” Al-Jaafari said.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)