NEW DELHI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- India has reiterated that 39 of its nationals kidnapped in the Iraqi town of Mosul last year are safe, asserting efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
"As per latest information from multiple third party sources, they are all safe. The government is making all efforts and taking all steps to secure their release," India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh told the parliament Wednesday.
"As per information received from the Indian embassy in Baghdad, 39 Indians are held under the captivity of Islamic state of Mosul, " said the minister.
Singh said Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had contacted her counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as other friendly countries in the region and sought their help in securing the release of the 39 kidnapped Indians.
A total of 40 Indian nationals were taken hostage by the Islamic State on June 11 last year in Mosul, one of whom managed to flee.
