Evacuation of Indians from Iraq big challenge: Omar
10 years, 9 months ago

Evacuation of Indians from Iraq big challenge: Omar

The Hindu  

Terming the evacuation of stranded Indians from strife-torn Iraq as a “big challenge” for the Union government, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he hoped the Centre would do everything to bring them back from the Gulf nation safely. “The first impact it has is that many of our people are working there and evacuating them safely has become a big challenge to the present Central government. Mr. Omar said the situation in Iraq might have an effect on oil prices and thereby give rise to inflation here. The Centre on Wednesday said 40 Indian construction workers have been kidnapped in the oil-rich Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq.

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History of this topic

Indians made to kneel down, shot dead in front of me, says escaped ISIS hostage
7 years ago

Indians made to kneel down, shot dead in front of me, says escaped ISIS hostage

Deccan Chronicle  

Chandigarh: Harjit Masih, the lone survivor who had managed to flee from ISIS captivity in Iraq in June 2014 following his abduction along with 39 other Indians there, said on Tuesday he had been maintaining for the last three years that all others had been killed. “I had been saying for the last three years that all 39 Indians had …

Bodies of 39 Kidnapped Indian Workers Found In Mass Grave In Iraq
7 years ago

Bodies of 39 Kidnapped Indian Workers Found In Mass Grave In Iraq

NPR  

Bodies of 39 Kidnapped Indian Workers Found In Mass Grave In Iraq Enlarge this image toggle caption Prabhjot Gill/AP Prabhjot Gill/AP For years Harjit Masih has been talking about what happened outside of the Iraqi city of Mosul, the Associated Press reported. He and 39 other Indian men — all construction workers working on the Mosul University campus — had …

Families of 39 Indians missing in Mosul still hopeful, though Iraq govt remains unsure of their condition
7 years, 8 months ago

Families of 39 Indians missing in Mosul still hopeful, though Iraq govt remains unsure of their condition

Firstpost  

Families of 39 Indians missing in Iraq’s Mosul are still keeping their fingers crossed even after Iraqi foreign minister said that he was not sure if the missing Indians were alive or not. Chandigarh: Families of 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab, who went missing in Iraq’s Mosul town three years ago are still keeping their fingers crossed even after Iraqi …

Iraq says search on for 39 abducted Indians, Swaraj to discuss issue with Iraqi counterpart today
7 years, 8 months ago

Iraq says search on for 39 abducted Indians, Swaraj to discuss issue with Iraqi counterpart today

India TV News  

The Iraq Embassy on Sunday informed India that search operations are underway to locate the 39 missing Indians, which were taken hostage by the Islamic State in Mosul in 2014. The fate of these Indians is set to come up during bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari today. Al-Jaafari's visit from July …

39 Indians missing in Iraq probably in Badush jail where battle's on: Sushma
7 years, 8 months ago

39 Indians missing in Iraq probably in Badush jail where battle's on: Sushma

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: Thirty-nine Indians abducted in Iraq by the ISIS three years ago may be lodged in a jail in Badush in northwest Mosul, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday, and added that her Iraqi counterpart may bring fresh information about them when he visits India on July 24. Swaraj briefed family members of the abducted men, who …

Union Minister VK Singh to travel to Iraq for locating 39 missing Indians
7 years, 8 months ago

Union Minister VK Singh to travel to Iraq for locating 39 missing Indians

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh will travel to Erbil, Iraq, later on Monday to locate and bring back the 39 Indians reportedly kept in Mosul as hostages of the ISIS. Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh will travel to Erbil later on Monday and the Ambassador of India to Iraq and …

Stranded Indian workers in the Gulf need more than a return ticket
8 years, 7 months ago

Stranded Indian workers in the Gulf need more than a return ticket

Live Mint  

Bengaluru/New Delhi: Finding a way to fly back home is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the problems faced by the unemployed Indian workers stuck in the Gulf are concerned. Singh’s visit last week, Saudi Arabia agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers to go back home at its own expense. In New …

10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia to be brought back, says Sushma Swaraj
8 years, 7 months ago

10,000 Indians stranded in Saudi Arabia to be brought back, says Sushma Swaraj

Firstpost  

: The government is making all efforts to bring back the 10,000 Indian workers rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and is also providing them food in camps. New Delhi: The government is making all efforts to bring back the 10,000 Indian workers rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia and is also providing them food in camps, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj …

Govt looking to evacuate Indian workers from Saudi Arabia
8 years, 7 months ago

Govt looking to evacuate Indian workers from Saudi Arabia

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India is looking at evacuating a large number of its expatriate workers facing an uncertain future in Saudi Arabia after job cuts in the construction industry, a government official said on Sunday. More than 10,000 Indians working in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are estimated by India to be without jobs after low oil prices forced governments in the …

No sign of missing Indian workers in Iraq, say Kurdish officials: Report
8 years, 9 months ago

No sign of missing Indian workers in Iraq, say Kurdish officials: Report

India TV News  

No sign of missing Indian workers in Iraq, say Kurdish officials: Report New Delhi: Peshmerga units of Kurdish Regional Government monitoring the Islamic State’s preparations ahead of a government offensive to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul have found no evidence that Indian or other South Asian New Delhi: Peshmerga units of Kurdish Regional Government monitoring the Islamic State’s preparations …

Iraq crisis: US mission to rescue Yazidis less likely after fewer refugees than expected found on Mt Sinjar
10 years, 7 months ago

Iraq crisis: US mission to rescue Yazidis less likely after fewer refugees than expected found on Mt Sinjar

ABC  

A possible US mission to evacuate civilians trapped on Iraq's Mount Sinjar after they fled Islamic State fighters is now unlikely to take place, after a US reconnaissance team found "far fewer" Yazidi refugees than previously thought. But an overnight mission, which saw fewer than 20 US special forces personnel airlifted onto the mountain under cover of darkness, found "far …

US airdrops more food and water for Iraq’s Yazidi refugees
10 years, 7 months ago

US airdrops more food and water for Iraq’s Yazidi refugees

The Hindu  

U.S. defence officials say American planes have conducted a second airdrop of food and water for thousands of refugees trapped in Iraq’s Sinjar mountains. ‘Militants hold hundreds of Yazidi women in Mosul’ Hundreds of Yazidi women have been taken captive by Sunni militants with “vicious plans”, an Iraqi official has said, further underscoring the dire plight of Iraq’s minorities at …

U.S. airstrikes to affect efforts to free Indians
10 years, 7 months ago

U.S. airstrikes to affect efforts to free Indians

The Hindu  

The U.S. decision to begin airstrikes on ISIS-controlled parts of Iraq is likely to have repercussions for Indians still stuck inside the country and will hamper efforts to free the 41 Indian men being held captive in Mosul. According to a source acquainted with the government’s negotiations with the group holding the Indians hostage, the U.S. move is going to …

ISIS clams up, blow to efforts for release of 39 Indian workers
10 years, 8 months ago

ISIS clams up, blow to efforts for release of 39 Indian workers

Hindustan Times  

Iraq’s Sunni militants holding 39 Indians hostage for more than a month have slammed the doors shut on all negotiations in a big blow to efforts for securing their release. We continue to knock on doors but the clear indication is that ISIS does not want to negotiate their release right now,’’ a government official told HT. The Iraqi Red …

Stranded Indians in Iraq: Opposition seeks detailed response
10 years, 8 months ago

Stranded Indians in Iraq: Opposition seeks detailed response

The Hindu  

Opposition on Friday demanded a detailed response from Government in Rajya Sabha on Iraq issue ruing that there is no data on how many Indians were still stuck up there and said the Centre should show urgency in the matter as was shown during the Gulf war. Mr. Balagopal said Government does not have any data regarding how many Indians …

Iraq Crises: 84 construction workers return to India
10 years, 8 months ago

Iraq Crises: 84 construction workers return to India

India TV News  

New Delhi: A batch of 84 construction workers, hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, returned here today from Iraq, saying it was an escape from death in the strife-torn country. So, we thought that it was high time for us to leave the country to save our lives,” Surya, a mason from West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, said.He was …

15 Gujarati youths returned safe from graveyard Iraq
10 years, 8 months ago

15 Gujarati youths returned safe from graveyard Iraq

India TV News  

15 Gujarati youths returned safe from graveyard Iraq Gujarat: A group of 15 Indian workers belonging from Navsari district of Gujarat today returned home from strife-torn Iraq by a special Air India flight. Their return to the country has spread a wave of Gujarat: A group of 15 Indian workers belonging from Navsari district of Gujarat today returned home from …

Are abducted Indian workers Is ISIL using captured Indians in Iraq as labourers?
10 years, 8 months ago

Are abducted Indian workers Is ISIL using captured Indians in Iraq as labourers?

Firstpost  

Among the scores of ISIL fighters are several Indians who left their homes to join the group–something ISIL chief and self-anointed ‘Caliph’ confirmed on a 20 minute audio message. Meanwhile, last week, ISIL declared that captured territories were now part of the ‘Caliphate’ and called for Muslims from across the world to declare jihad and migrate back to the rechristened …

Indians in Mosul used for forced labour
10 years, 8 months ago

Indians in Mosul used for forced labour

The Hindu  

Indian workers construction workers trapped in Mosul have been press-ganged to build earthworks and defensive fortifications by Islamist insurgents holding the city, a senior Kurdish security official has told TheHindu. Food and fuel are running short in Mosul, though, so the workers are probably facing considerable hardship.” Families of the 39 Indians trapped in Mosul, many of whom were in …

Government cautioned against hasty Iraq evacuation
10 years, 8 months ago

Government cautioned against hasty Iraq evacuation

The Hindu  

As the government readies for a possible evacuation of Indians in Iraq, voices within the Ministry of External Affairs are counselling against the move as the majority of the Indians are outside the conflict zone and not in imminent danger. Despite the declaration of a “caliphate” or an Islamic state by the ISIS in the parts of Iraq and Syria …

94 Indians leave Iraq; nearly 600 to return this week
10 years, 8 months ago

94 Indians leave Iraq; nearly 600 to return this week

India TV News  

New Delhi: As many as 94 Indians today left Iraq after a “pro-active approach” initated by the Indian officials there that would see nearly 600 nationals leaving the war-hit country to safety this week. Indian officials in Iraq are reaching out to compatriots themselves, and are busy facilitating the paperwork and ticketing, for those needed, to enable them to fly …

Fuel, food run out in Mosul
10 years, 8 months ago

Fuel, food run out in Mosul

The Hindu  

Food, fuel and water are running out in Iraq’s second largest city, causing thousands to flee ahead of the air strikes many fear will precede a government counter-offensive to retake cities captured by Islamist insurgents earlier this month. Escaping Mosul residents interviewed by The Hindu on Sunday said power supply was down to two hours a day, while petrol and …

Iraq crisis: India intensifies efforts to rescue citizens, warship on standby
10 years, 8 months ago

Iraq crisis: India intensifies efforts to rescue citizens, warship on standby

Firstpost  

With the Iraq crisis worsening, India on Saturday said it has flown in officials to three Iraqi cities to help evacuate Indians wanting to return home. New Delhi: With the situation worsening in violence-hit Iraq, India on Saturday said it has flown in officials to three Iraqi cities to help evacuate Indians wanting to return home and asserted that “all …

Modi calls top meeting to discuss evacuation options
10 years, 9 months ago

Modi calls top meeting to discuss evacuation options

The Hindu  

In a preliminary move to assess the possibilities to evacuate Indians in Iraq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a meeting of top officials here on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa and senior intelligence officials, who were asked to give contingency …

Indians in Iraq advised to stay indoors
10 years, 9 months ago

Indians in Iraq advised to stay indoors

The Hindu  

As the security environment continued to be volatile in the conflict zone in Iraq, India has advised its nationals to stay indoors. The government also issued an advisory to Indians outside the conflict zone who wished to leave Iraq to take commercial flights out of the airports in Erbil, Baghdad, Najaf and Basra. “Since there are a significant number of …

Indians in captivity in Iraq safe: Government
10 years, 9 months ago

Indians in captivity in Iraq safe: Government

India TV News  

New Delhi: Indians held captive by suspected Sunni militants in Mosul town of Iraq were unharmed, the government said Monday even as efforts continued to secure their release from their abductors in the violence-hit Gulf country. External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told reporters here that efforts were being made to move out Indians from conflict zones in Iraq.He said …

No info about captors of Indians: Iraq
10 years, 9 months ago

No info about captors of Indians: Iraq

The Hindu  

Iraq’s envoy to India Ahmad Berwari has said his government has no information about who is holding the 39 Indians captive in Mosul, although his government has confirmed that they are “safe” at present. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin also said the government was in touch with 12 companies employing Indian nationals in Iraq and would soon work out a …

Abductees safe, hints of captors’ identity available
10 years, 9 months ago

Abductees safe, hints of captors’ identity available

The Hindu  

India has “received indications about the identity” of the captors holding 39 of its nationals hostage in the ISIS-controlled northern Iraqi city of Mosul, government sources revealed on Saturday. Even as Amnesty International said that “hundreds of Indian construction workers” were “possibly stranded in Iraq,” the government said almost all of them were stuck because of labour disputes arising out …

39 Indians in captivity unharmed: Govt
10 years, 9 months ago

39 Indians in captivity unharmed: Govt

The Hindu  

Efforts continued on Saturday to secure the release of the 39 kidnapped Indians in Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq with the government remaining in touch with the countries in the region to resolve the crisis after identity of the captors were known. Government said all the Indians in captivity were “unharmed” and it was “fully engaged” and “every possible effort” …

Abducted Indians safe, in touch
10 years, 9 months ago

Abducted Indians safe, in touch

The Hindu  

One of the abducted Indian nationals who escaped from his captors in Mosul in Iraq has confirmed that the group of construction workers is “safe” and in touch with officials of the Indian Embassy in Baghdad, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, National Security Adviser Ajit …

16 stranded Indians in Iraq moved out
10 years, 9 months ago

16 stranded Indians in Iraq moved out

The Hindu  

Sixteen Indians stranded in violence-affected areas of Iraq have been evacuated even as one of the 40 abducted Indians has fled from the captors in Mosul town which is under the control of the militants. The developments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting which was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma …

Iraq Crises: 16 Indians evacuated, 1 of the 40 kidnapped escapes
10 years, 9 months ago

Iraq Crises: 16 Indians evacuated, 1 of the 40 kidnapped escapes

India TV News  

New Delhi: Sixteen Indians stranded in violence-affected areas of Iraq have been evacuated and one of the 40 kidnapped Indians has escaped from captivity in Mosul town even as government said it was “knocking at all doors” to rescue its citizens. As concerns mounted for the kidnapped Indians and 46 nurses trapped in Tikrit, Government said it was making all …

48 foreign captives released in Iraq, no news of Indians hostages
10 years, 9 months ago

48 foreign captives released in Iraq, no news of Indians hostages

India TV News  

Kirkuk/New Delhi: Militants who have seized large swathes of territory while advancing towards Iraq's capital Baghdad have released 48 foreigners, including four Turks, held captive for several days. "They will return to their countries soon," said Major General Torhan Abdulrahman, the deputy police chief for Kirkuk province.Militants have seized many foreigners, including 40 Indians and more than 40 Turks, since …

ISIS worse than wild animals, says Indian who returned from Iraq
10 years, 9 months ago

ISIS worse than wild animals, says Indian who returned from Iraq

India TV News  

New Delhi: Few survivors from the violence-stricken land returned home and recounted his horiffic stay in the country. The ones who have returned say that the situation is dangerous even as they added that the Indians in Baghdad were alive.Speaking with India TV, Zulfiqar Abbas said that the ISIS were like wild animals and the situation in Iraq was grim.Another …

Location of abducted Indians in Mosul identified: Centre
10 years, 9 months ago

Location of abducted Indians in Mosul identified: Centre

The Hindu  

The location of the 40 Indian construction workers held captive in Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq has been identified by Iraqi authorities, the government said on Thursday. Asserting that it was doing everything possible to secure release of the kidnapped Indians, the government said Indian embassy in Baghdad was “persistently” following the matter with Iraqi authorities. “We have been informed …

Efforts on to rescue Indians kidnapped in Iraq: Swaraj
10 years, 9 months ago

Efforts on to rescue Indians kidnapped in Iraq: Swaraj

The Hindu  

Amid rising concern over the abduction of 40 Indian construction workers in Mosul town in strife-torn Iraq, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said all efforts are underway to rescue them and all others stranded in the violence-hit areas of the Gulf country. The External Affairs Ministry had on Wednesday announced that the 40 workers had been kidnapped in …

Negotiation to evacuation: What India must do to save citizens in Iraq
10 years, 9 months ago

Negotiation to evacuation: What India must do to save citizens in Iraq

Firstpost  

It is not just the 40 kidnapped workers. The workers, mostly from Punjab and parts of north India, were workers with a construction company in the Mosul town of Iraq, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mehmood Ali said on Wednesday said the state government was in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and …

Iraq insurgency: 40 Indian workers abducted, whereabouts unknown
10 years, 9 months ago

Iraq insurgency: 40 Indian workers abducted, whereabouts unknown

Firstpost  

The workers, most of whom may be from Punjab and other parts of north India, were workers of a construction company in Mosul town of Iraq, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters. He said the Indian government had no clue about the kidnappers or any concrete information about those abducted and whatever information has been gathered is through …

Indians Caught In Middle Of Iraq's Worsening Crisis
10 years, 9 months ago

Indians Caught In Middle Of Iraq's Worsening Crisis

NPR  

Indians Caught In Middle Of Iraq's Worsening Crisis Enlarge this image toggle caption Adnan Abidi/Reuters/Landov Adnan Abidi/Reuters/Landov The kidnapping of 40 Indian construction workers in Iraq by suspected militants has rapidly become the first foreign policy test for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, barely a month after he assumed office. India's Foreign Ministry says there are 10,000 Indian workers currently …

Indians trapped in Iraq may not be in danger, say analysts
10 years, 9 months ago

Indians trapped in Iraq may not be in danger, say analysts

The Hindu  

Indians caught in the battle zones of Iraq include another 12 nurses in the Diyala province, an area north east of Baghdad, whose capital Baqouba is currently the epicenter of the fighting. Analysts say that the trapped Indians may not be in danger, because their captors, unlike hardcore Islamists, appear to be mostly Sunni tribesmen, who are only in a …

MEA confirms abduction of 40 Indian workers in Iraq
10 years, 9 months ago

MEA confirms abduction of 40 Indian workers in Iraq

Firstpost  

Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin today confirmed that 40 Indian workers in Mosul have been abducted, possibly by ISIS militants, based on information received from international agencies. Akbaruddin said that the government is working on a contingency plan and is in regular touch with humanitarian aid organisations like the Red Crescent as well as the Iraqi government. “Even …

40 Indians missing in Iraq, kidnapping feared
10 years, 9 months ago

40 Indians missing in Iraq, kidnapping feared

The Hindu  

Indian officials in Baghdad lost contact with about 40 Indian construction workers in Mosul, and fear many of them have been kidnapped, sources confirm. The group of workers, some from Punjab were working on a government construction project in Mosul, that was over-run by ISIS militants last week. While the MEA spokesman's office refused to confirm the developments, sources say …

Government confirms the kidnapping of 40 Indian workers in Iraq
10 years, 9 months ago

Government confirms the kidnapping of 40 Indian workers in Iraq

India TV News  

New Delhi: The Indian government said Wednesday that 40 Indian workers stranded in Iraq have been kidnapped. The external affairs ministry said the Indians worked for a Turkish construction company and mostly belonged to the country's northern states such as Punjab.According to the earlier reports around 40 Indians working on projects near the Iraqi city of Mosul were kidnapped by …

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