Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon friends and thank you very much for being here this afternoon. As is usual, I will update you about the situation in Iraq regarding the Indian nationals. Subsequently, if you have any questions on those aspects, I am willing to answer; and if you have any questions on anything else, I will be also willing to answer those but in that sequence.
Let me start about the situation in Iraq. Since we met yesterday, it’s been a difficult time for us both at headquarters in New Delhi as well as for our Mission personnel in Iraq. As you are aware, there are two issues of a primary nature. One is issues relating to the Indians in the non-conflict zone. I am happy to inform you that since we met yesterday, the numbers of tickets that are now available for Indians to travel out of Iraq has increased to approximately 900. So 900 Indians have already been provided tickets to fly out of Iraq. Most of them are flying on Iraqi Airways flights, where there are seats available. We are booking them to the nearest international airport in India.
Yesterday when I mentioned to you, there were issues in Karbala because of a curfew there. Since then the curfew has been lifted and our mobile teams are now able to work with the immigration authorities to speed up the departure of Indian nationals. We hope by the end of the day to have a more consolidated figure of the number of Indian nationals whose papers have been completed for processing. And that would add to the number of Indian nationals whose tickets are being bought.
By our estimation, since the mobile teams started working in these 3 places i.e. Karbala, Najaf and Basra, 1500 Indians have registered to leave. There are some others who we are working with in terms of their coming to considered decision on whether they would like to leave or not. As happens in such situations, there is sometimes a wavering of intention; there is sometimes a change in perceptions. So these are normal situations, which our officials are working on. We have currently 25 officials deployed in those 3 plus Baghdad. In addition, there are a few Indian nationals who are also in Irbil who have indicated their interest in leaving. We will assist them; these are largely issues related to labour or contractual problem but however, we are committed, as you are aware, to help every Indian national wherever he or she is in Iraq to depart.
That’s about the summary of issues relating to the Indian nationals in the non-conflict zone. As regards the Indian nationals in the conflict zone, let me try and focus on the Indian nationals who were in captivity in Mosul.
As regards those Indian nationals, we have subsequently also a confirmation of people who have seen them unharmed but in captivity. That brings me to the next question, relating to the Indian nationals who are nurses who were in the hospital in Tikrit. My understanding is that approximately a short while ago, they have moved to another location. The Ministry of External Affairs has been in regular touch with our Embassy in Baghdad and through the Embassy with a variety of interlocutors on the ground. Our understanding is that it is for reasons or interests of their own their safety that they have agreed to move out. All of them are safe and unharmed. The External Affairs Minister has been in constant touch with the Kerala Chief Minister all through this morning and has been advising the Indian nationals through our Embassy based on her consultations and discussions with the Kerala Chief Minister and a group of his advisors who were here in New Delhi.
Our Embassy is continuing to be in touch with those Indian nurses, even as they are moving to another location. We will, of course, be in constant touch and try our best to ensure their well-being through various channels. I think I will stop here and if there are any questions, I am willing to answer on issues relating to Indian nationals in Iraq.
Question: Sir, are we aware about the exact location of the nurses and is India in touch with them directly?
Official Spokesperson: Yes, my answer to both your questions is that they are on the move right now and our officials have been touch with them including 10 minutes ago.
Question: Do we infer that the nurses are now in captivity? Are they hostages?
Official Spokesperson: In zones of conflict, there is no free will. If your question is that have they moved of their free will, my answer to you is that in zones of conflict there is no free will. That said, we need to see every difficulty as an opportunity rather than every opportunity as a difficulty. As diplomats, this is what we are trained to work in. Zones of conflict obviously are situations where there are no norms, no rules. But that said, we are in touch, we are working with them. If your question is that they went of their own free will, my answer to you again is that there is no free will in zones of conflict.
Question: Sir, lekin Kerala ke Chief Minister ka kehna hai ki, jo nurses hain, woh ISIS ke saath gayi hain. Woh captive bana ke le gaye hain.
Official Spokesperson: Main, jo mananiya mukhya mantri jee keh rahe hain, uske baare mein jawab nahin de saktaa kyunki main to ek bahut hi chhota afsar hoon iske baare mein. Jo unki reading hai woh kahenge, jo Videsh Mantrayala ki reading hai main keh raha hoon.I have explained to you that they have been moved. I have explained to you that in zones of captivity there are no expressions of free will as we know it in terms of areas which are not zones of conflict.
Question: Sir, are you saying that we don’t know who have taken them? and second part of the same question, how are we going to continue to be in touch with them if they are with the ISIS militants and they switch off their phones, what’s our plan?
Official Spokesperson: Obviously, we are not going to communicate through you. This is not ‘Peepli Live’ that we need to communicate through you with the nurses. Please understand, this is a situation of grave difficulty. This is a situation where lives are at stake and you would like to know in advance, what are our plans to communicate with them, you would like to know on a minute-by-minute basis what we intent to do, I am sorry. I am not here either to help you in that endeavour or to undermine the situation of difficulty that already the Indian nationals are facing. You may be interested in that, I am not.
Question: There are also reports by the Kerala media, of course, is that the militia has actually taken the nurses to another hospital in that conflict zone in Mosul. Do we have confirmation of that?
Official Spokesperson: All I am saying is that they are on road; I do not know what their destinations are. We will confirm to you as confirmed information is available. I don’t think there was an announcement of where they were going or what was happening but all I can tell you is: a) they remain unharmed, b) they are not going of their own free will and c) we will continue to keep in touch with them and their welfare is now the utmost importance to the Government of India. As I said, the External Affairs Minister, all through this morning, was in extremely close consultation with the Kerala Chief Minister. Both of them have worked on this and based on their understanding and consultations, our Mission in Baghdad has advised the nurses to proceed where they are proceeding.
Question: Sir, there is a report that 2 nurses got injured in a bomb blast near the hospital. Any information about this?
Official Spokesperson: My understanding is that there was no bomb-blast. However, there has been some glass broken and there have been minor injuries to some those nurses. However, neither these are of a major nature nor have they been harmed.
Question: Sir, Prime Minister is supposed to have discussed this issue with Senator McCain. Any….
Official Spokesperson: I am not privy to the discussions at that level.
Question: Sir, just want a clarification, did you say that the Indian nurses before they left Tikrit hospital, they were advised by the Indian Embassy?
Official Spokesperson: Let me put it again. Those nurses have been in close consultation with the Embassy. Also, Tikrit is a situation where the writ of Iraqi government does not run because the Iraqi army is not in control of Tikrit. Also, we have been in touch with humanitarian organizations and they had, in this instance, indicated their inability to reach the nurses given the difficulties in road transport.
Taking all these into account and to ensure their safety, we have been in regular touch with the nurses and the outcome to move them is based on the understanding of a situation that we are confronted in, a situation which is not of our choice, a situation which is a difficult one, a situation where the Iraqi government is unable to assist at this stage because they are not in control; also a situation where the humanitarian organizations are unable to proceed and meet them and assist them in any manner. It is all these factors which have resulted in situation there, those nurses have moved.
Question: Sir, you said the nurses have moved. Who have they gone with or who have taken them?
Official Spokesperson: Everything need not be said. There are situations where, as responsible officers, we need to ensure that stumbling blocks are changed in stepping stones. We are working on that. The information, that we can provide to you, is based on the primary goal that we have in mind that is the well-being of those nurses. And that we will tackle. I understand, all other information is, for us, of secondary importance. The main information that we have is that they have moved; that free will is not a situation that we can associate with such a situation and we are in touch with them and will continue to pursue their well-being.
Question: Just a small clarification, the nurses who are on the move, are you still in touch with them? Are they picking up calls of the Indian Embassy?
Official Spokesperson: I mentioned to you that 10 minutes before I came, we were in touch with them. I cannot give you minute-by-minute information but please try to understand everyday evening we will brief you on the situation. I do understand, as I said, there are some of you would like to make this into a ball-by-ball commentary. Unfortunately, I don’t think that we, as the Government of India, do not think that this is in anybody’s interest to do this because in a war-like situation, there is flux. What you may know today may be slightly different from yesterday.
Since late last night, I received about 25 calls saying that the nurses had already moved. Yet, they had moved this morning. So, please understand that this is a situation of flux, this is conflict situation and this is a situation where people will provide different viewpoints. However, we can only provide you authenticated and corroborated information and all that information that I have, I have shared with you.
Question: Was it as per our advice that the nurses moved to the basement of the hospital when some Bangladeshis moved out of the hospital?
Official Spokesperson: I do not know exact details of this again. I request you not to get into these details. You will have time and space to address these questions when everything is over because at this stage if you are going to ask, it’s like several of you have told me that- last night they moved, but I am not any of you who said that- ‘Oh you got it wrong!’. So, in a conflict situation it is normal to get some information and then to get corrected information. So at this stage I will not get into an archival mode to try and give you an archive or a timeline of what has happened when, but I will try to give you the trajectory and the broad direction in which we are moving. So, please understand that beyond that I am not going to share information which could put the situation of those nurses in danger.
Question: I understand that many of these are operational details which cannot be shared at this point but without sharing specifics, does India know or have an idea which way or where the nurses might be headed? I can understand that it cannot be share publicly but do we have some idea, based on our conversation with the nurses, where they might be headed?
Official Spokesperson: India is not alone on working on this. We have partners, we have partners across Iraq, and we also have partners outside Iraq. Let me tell you, we are working in concert with our partners.
Question: How many of the nurses had moved?
Official Spokesperson: I will not be able to give information, but all. There is nobody who stayed back. I do not want to get into specific numbers because in situations like these nobody can be held to account in terms of numbers but in any case numbers don’t matter. What matters is Indian lives and my understanding is, all of them.
Question: If my understanding is correct, before they moved External Affairs Minister and CM both decided that they should be advised to move.
Official Spokesperson: Let me explain to you how we worked this out. Since yesterday all our officials are regular touch. The Chief Minister of Kerala is in Delhi. He had an extended meeting with External Affairs Minister where he was briefed about the situation. Both agreed on what is the current situation, what are the options and what could be a possible way out to turning this difficulty into an opportunity and that agreement was between the two principals. That said, in such situations, there are very little options. It is not that normal diplomacy can prevail; it is not that there are options of another nature. That will ensure the safety of those people because safety is of paramount importance; the option that is available was utilized by them in consultation with everybody who is involved in this matter.
Question: My question pertains to reports in the media that suggest the Prime Minister has been invited to come to Berlin from Frankfurt for 2 days at the invitation of GermanChancellor Angela Merkel. So my question is, could you confirm that or has it not been confirmed yet? And the second part of the same question is will the Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj be accompanying him?
Official Spokesperson: I only answer one question and I will answer the first question. As regards the Prime Minister’s visit to the BRICS, I have confirmed that the Prime Minister will be attending. We have also confirmed that he will not be attending the FIFA World Cup final. You are also aware, as seasoned journalists, that when you travel transatlantic or to Latin America, it’s normal to have a transit halt. A transit halt is what is being planned for and that’s where we are. If in the context of the transit halt, there is a request for any further interaction, at this stage that has not been decided upon.
So where we are in is that: a) Prime Minister will travel to BRICS; b) that there will be a transit halt, both while going and while coming back. It’s normal thatBoeing 747will not be able to travel that distance without refeulling, so there will be transit halts. In previous instances also, these transit halts have been in Germany. That’s where we are in terms of the fact. Now, if there is any further development on this, that has not yet been finalised and I will not be able to confirm to you anything beyond what I have said because the factual position is that as it stands today. About what dates the transit halt is going to take place is also not finalised. And my understanding is that it is nearer to 14th than to what is being reported. The transit halt is likely to take place nearer to 14th and on the return sector too, rather than what is being reported.
Question: So, on the way (to Brazil) he may go to Germany; but on the way he come back, he will then make a transit in another country.
Official Spokesperson: I understand the import of your question but I think that is not what is on the table as yet. However, I mean, not being on the table as yet doesn’t mean that it could land upon the table. But as of now, as far as I know, that option, perhaps, is not on the table. These are transit halts and it is normal practice; many of you have also travelled on those flights and are aware of those transit halts.
Question: Which transit halt, whether it is Japan or Germany?
Official Spokesperson: You know, I think we are getting into a speculative mode and I will not go down that route because it is very easy for you to do that but difficult for me. All I said was, there is a usual transit halt when the Prime Minister travels. This has happened several times, it has been in Germany. A team is right now in Germany to address that transit halt and if there are other issues that arise during, as a part of this transit halt and there are other requests that are made, certainly these will be considered but at this stage all I can confirm is what I have said, if that is alright.
Question: Is there any information regarding Sri Lankan ministerG.L. Peiris’s visit to India? And what about the rest of the fishermen in Sri Lanka?
Official Spokesperson: My understanding is that more than 175 fishermen have been released since the new government came to power. There are small number of fishermen who are still in custody in Sri Lanka and our Mission is working on that.
As regards the visit of the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, we are working on that and it is likely that he would visit this month.
Thank you very much. With that we end this meeting.
(Concluded)
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