New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday before leaving US and discussed the issue of Indians being held hostage in Iraq.
Modi, in his conversation with Abbas, sought his help and pass on any information that he might have on the status of 39 Indians held captive by the Islamic State.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that all 39 Indians were still alive and said that the government would do the necessary to secure their release after gathering more information.
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"The Prime Minister asked the President to share with him any information he had regarding the condition of the Indians, to which the President replied saying that any information regarding this matter has constantly been transferred between India and Palestine and as soon as they receive any new information regarding the prisoners, they will let us know," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj herself briefed a delegation of the relatives of the captives on September 18 before she left for New York.
According to Abbas, all the captive Indians taken as prisoners are alive so far.
39 Indian construction workers were taken captive by Islamic State in Mosul last year. Despite repeated attempts by the Indian government, it could not have secure their release.
