India's first priority is to get our people back from Iraq: BJP spokesperson MJ Akbar

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, MJ Akbar on thursday said that India's first priority is to get the kidnapped Indians back home safely. Akbar said, "India's stand on the Iraq will be same as it was earlier and it's a diplomatic challenge to get our people back. If our international friends can help us in achieving our goal, then it would really good for us. Our efforts will continue to rescue the stranded Indian nationals."

He added, "I feel this war is going to go on for long, as the roots of violence in Iraq is quite old and this ongoing war is not only going to affect other countries, but will also affect oil price and we will have to deal with it."

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Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had said on Wednesday that no ransom calls had been received as yet for the 40 Indians who remain uncontactable in Iraq, while the location of the alleged kidnapping is still unknown.