Syria will help search for 39 missing Indians: Dr Riad Kamel Abbas

In what is good news for India, Syria has confirmed that it will help look for the 39 Indians who are believed to have been taken captive by the Islamic State (IS).

In an interview to WION, Syrian Ambassador to India, Dr Riad Kamel Abbas, confirmed that his government was looking for the Indians who are believed to have been held in Raqqa, a city located in eastern Syria.       

"Our government has instructed military and intelligence to look for the Indians as it was reported that they have been taken to the city (Raqqa). We will inform the Indian government as and when the security updates come," said the Syrian ambassador.

Dr Abbas said that the issue of the missing Indians was brought to his attention by Home Minister Rajnath Singh who requested his government to look into the matter. He added that Syria was interested in resolving the issue and believed that his country and India would work well together, as the intelligence agencies of both countries shared a good rapport.

"Our Army can reach Raqqa in five hours. If they (the missing Indians) are there we will pull them out. I assure you that we will bring them back," he said.

The 39 Indians, most of whom are construction workers from Punjab, had gone missing in 2014, after the IS took control of Mosul. But even after the liberation of Mosul in July by Iraqi armed forces, there has been no sign of the missing Indians. Analysts believe that they may be being held in Raqqa which is the self-declared capital of the IS.       

Meanwhile, Dr Abbas also stated that a high level ministerial delegation from India is also expected to visit Syria. "Next month you will see a high-level delegation from Syria visiting India," said Dr Abbas.

(With inputs from agencies)