India confirms 40 of its nationals abducted in Iraq

After hours of flip-flop, India finally confirmed Wednesday that 40 of its nationals working for a Turkish construction company were abducted in violence-hit Iraq.

"It is with deep, deep sadness we would like to inform you 40 workers of the Tariq Noor al-Huda construction company have been abducted. The abducted people were largely from northern parts of India. You can never be certain about exact information," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media in the national capital.

He added: "We will not spare any efforts to help the Indians in Iraq... International Red Crescent has confirmed that they have been kidnapped, but is unaware of their location. No answer on how they were kidnapped or who they are... India is sending back its former envoy to strengthen the embassies there."

The ministry did not either say who had kidnapped the workers, although earlier media reports blamed it on the insurgents of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).

The ministry had earlier in the day denied a newspaper report that 40 Indian nationals were abducted by suspected rebels Tuesday while trying to flee fighting between ISIL and forces near the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Some 46 Indian nurses are also stranded in the violence-hit Iraqi city of Tikrit, the ministry said Tuesday.

India had Sunday issued a travel advisory, asking its nationals to avoid traveling to Iraq due to clashes in that country between militants and government forces.