NSA Ajit Doval, IB chief Asif Ibrahim played key role in evacuating Indians from Iraq

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Chief Asif Ibrahim played a key role in the evacuation of 46 nurses as well as thousands Indian stuck up in crisis-hit Iraq.

According to a report in The Hindu, the NSA and the IB chief had flown to Baghdad and Riyadh respectively last month and their visits were kept secret at that time.

The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was, in the meantime, in constant touch with her counterparts in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Doval to convene a high-level meeting to discuss the latest intelligence on the fighting in Tikrit and Mosul, as well as the possibilities for a mass evacuation of "all Indians in Iraq, if necessary."

A day later, Doval went on a mission to Iraq to gather ground intelligence and establish contacts with the Iraqi Government.

Ibrahim was dispatched to Riyadh on June 25-26 to speak with senior officials about intelligence on Sunni militant groups.

The report further stated that the two were assisted by Ba'athist groups still loyal to the residual regime of Saddam Hussein, and rebel military commanders from the Iraqi army.