Union Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh is in the Peshmarga frontline in Mosul, Iraq, that was liberated from the ISIS recently. He has been tasked with locating and bringing back the 39 Indians reportedly kept in Mosul as hostages of the ISIS. Singh tweeted last night, "Visited Peshmarga frontline in Mosul area to seek information on Indians held by ISIS. Peshmerga still clearing ISiS held areas."

The MEA said that "As soon as the announcement of liberation of Mosul was made by the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi, the Indian government activated various channels for locating those Indians. Iraqi authorities have conveyed that all cooperation would be extended in this regard and instructions have been issued by them to all relevant Iraqi agencies for the same."

Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh will also travel to Erbil and the Ambassador of India to Iraq and the Consulate General in Erbil have been instructed to continue the efforts to locate the 39 trapped Indians on priority.

The 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab, who had been held hostage by the fighters aligned to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Iraqi city of Mosul since 2014.

The Ministry of External Affairs had ealier said that 39 Indians taken hostage in the Iraqi city of Mosul are in the captivity of fighters aligned to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,are alive.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier assured Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that her ministry was making all-out efforts to trace the 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab and have been reportedly held hostage in the Iraqi city of Mosul since 2014.


Image: Courtesy Gen VK Singh's Twitter account.