External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, on 16 July, met with the families of the 39 Indians who have been missing in Iraq since 2014, reported The Indian Express.
The Indians are believed to have been abducted by Islamic State militants.
“The missing Indians are most probably in a jail in Badush (Iraq) where fighting is still going on,” said Swaraj.
The day Iraq PM declared Mosul as being liberated from ISIS, I asked VK Singh to go to Erbil (Iraq). Sources there told VK Singh that the missing Indians are most probably in a jail in Badush where fighting is still going on.Sushma Swaraj to ANI
Swaraj was accompanied by Ministers of State for MEA MJ Akbar and Gen VK Singh (retd) for the meeting that took place in New Delhi.
The government said on 13 July that it was "seriously and sincerely" engaged with the Iraqi authorities to trace the 39 Indians, who were reportedly taken hostage in Mosul in 2014 by the Islamic State.
Singh met Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari in Baghdad on 13 July and had handed over a letter from Swaraj to him.
India welcomes the liberation of Mosul, which represents a brave victory over forces of evil and destructions represented by Daesh terror group, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and The Indian Express.)
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