Missing Indians in Iraq yet to be traced

The 39 Indians who went missing in Mosul in 2014 are yet to be located although the Iraqi city has been liberated from the Islamic State, a senior official said on Thursday.

"As and when we get any information on the 39, we will let you know," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said. "We remain engaged very sincerely and very seriously at a high level (with Iraqi authorities)."

He said Iraqi officials had said they had sensitised their security agencies.

"If they see any Indian, not just these 39, but any Indian, we have requested them to inform us," the spokesperson said.

Iraqi forces liberated Mosul on Sunday after 266 days of fierce battles, bringing to an end three years of IS rule.

The 39 Indian construction workers, mostly from Punjab, were taken hostage in 2014. However, no demand was made for their release.

Baglay said Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh, who reached Erbil on Monday, met the local authorities.

Singh reached Baghdad on Wednesday and handed over a letter from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari in this connection.

--IANS

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