Baghdad: India is drawing up evacuation plan for rescuing 87 of its citizens held up in Iraq’s Mosul and Tikrit, the worst hit regions.
The Indian government has strongly condemned the takeover of two cities in Iraq by ‘terrorist outfits’ and has expressed concern for the safety of its citizens trapped in the war-torn nation.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the recent attacks in Iraq as a direct threat to the security and territorial integrity of the country.
“The Government of India strongly condemns such attacks and firmly stands by the Government and the people of Iraq in their fight against international terrorism and in their efforts to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of the friendly country of Iraq,†the statement said.
The government is launching the rescue as jihadist group – Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is spearheading a bloody rampage. But according to media reports, the process cannot start immediately as the roads to these areas are not safe.
Of the 87 Indians, 41 construction workers are stuck in Mosul and 46 nurses from Kerala in Tikrit.
The Embassy of India in Baghdad till Sunday got in touch with 41 Indians in Mosul. The officials are also in touch with 46 nurses.
The 46 Indian nurses from Kerala, are completely safe. The embassy in Iraq has said. “The International Red Crescent Society volunteers visited the 46 Indian nurses that were stranded in a hospital they were working in since last week,” Indian Ambassador A Ajay Kumar said.