New Delhi: Even as the fate of Indians in Iraq remains uncertain, few survivors from the violence-stricken land returned home and recounted his horiffic stay in the country.
Talking to news agency ANI, Zulfiqar Abbas said that the ISIS were like wild animals and the situation in Iraq was grim. Another survivor Mehboob Rizvi shared that being pilgrims they were still secure but God save locals as they are under big attack.
#ISIS are ferocious,worst than wild animals,killing Shia Sunni both,they want to create a nation-Zulfiqar Abbas,Indian back from Iraq
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014Situation is very dangerous,Indian embassy there is helping-Zulfiqar Abbas,Indian back from Iraq pic.twitter.com/pLbvCUHSFY
Being pilgrims we were still secure but God save locals,they are under big attack-Mehboob Rizvi,Indian back from Iraq pic.twitter.com/UgLnsRHncE
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014He also told the families of Indians here that those stranded there are safe as of now, but situation is tense and dangerous and Indian embassy there is helping them.
Want to tell families of Indians here that those stranded there are safe as of now,but situation tense-Zulfiqar Abbas,Indian back from Iraq
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014Meanwhile amid rising concern over the abduction of 40 Indian construction workers in Mosul town in strife-torn Iraq, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said all efforts are underway to rescue them and all others stranded in the violence-hit areas of the Gulf country.
Giving an assurance to the families of those kidnapped, she said every possible effort is being made to rescue them.
"All efforts are underway (to rescue them). I am personally supervising the efforts. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure their return," Swaraj told reporters here.
The workers, mostly from Punjab and other parts of northern India, were working on a construction project in Mosul in northern Iraq, which has been captured by Sunni militant group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).
Read Also: Indian mission in touch with nurses trapped in Iraq: Foreign Ministry
India is in touch with various humanitarian agencies, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and Iraqi government to gather more information about the kidnapping, according to the Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry.
About 10,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iraq and the government said some 100 were stranded in violence-hit areas in that country.
The Ministry said it was in touch with the 46 nurses who are stranded in Tikrit town, which was also taken over by ISIS militants.
Being pilgrims we were still secure but God save locals,they are under big attack-Mehboob Rizvi,Indian back from Iraq pic.twitter.com/UgLnsRHncE
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014In response to a request by the Indian embassy, International Red Crescent had contacted the nurses.
The government has sent former envoy to Iraq Suresh Reddy to strengthen the Indian Mission in Baghdad. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said that his state is ready to bear all expenses for the safe return of Punjabis kidnapped in oil-rich Mosul town.
Also Read: Iraq crisis: 40 Indians in Mosul abducted, no ransom call yet
The ministry said no demands for ransom had been made and the workers' whereabouts, along with who was responsible for the abductions, were not known.
While the families said the phone calls were cause for optimism, the government has warned that the situation on the ground remains "very difficult".
Ppl were killed like Mosquitoes,we could not contact kin back in India,i think all SIMs were blocked-Mehboob Rizvi,Indian back from Iraq
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2014Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have taken over vast swathes of territory as they advance on Baghdad, amid fears that the country could fall apart.
With details of the abduction sketchy, other families said they feared for the fate of the workers, who had been earning money on construction projects to send back home.
Humanitarian agencies and the Iraqi government have confirmed the abduction of the workers, who were employed by the Tariq Noor Al Huda construction company, ministry of external affairs said.
About 10,000 Indian nationals are currently in Iraq with some 100 caught in violence-hit areas, the ministry added.
Read: Fighting nears Baghdad as UN warns crisis 'life-threatening'
