NEW DELHI, July 29: India advised its citizens on Thursday not to visit Iraq after kidnappers holding seven truck drivers, three of them Indians, hostage threatened to kill one of them on Friday if their demands were not met.
Indian news reports cited a videotape message on Thursday in which a masked man was shown holding a rifle to the head of an Indian hostage. The kidnappers have not said which hostage they were threatening to kill by 1900 IST on Friday.
"In view of the seriousness of the current security situation in Iraq, Government of India advises its citizens to defer visits to that country for the time being," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The announcement came after their captors in Iraq killed two Pakistani hostages and the deadline over the fate of the Indian captives loomed tensely despite official bravado.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who flew to Bangkok on Thursday to attend the seven-nation BIMSTEC summit, said he would discuss the issue of terrorism with leaders of Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan who would be meeting for their regional conclave on Friday.
Dr. Singh said his government was hopeful of securing the safe release of the three Indians in Iraq and hoped that the efforts would succeed. "We are making all efforts for their release. The efforts will continue and I hope we succeed," he told reporters at the Delhi airport.
United News of India later quoted Dr. Singh as saying during his flight that he would discuss with BIMSTEC leaders steps to fight terrorism and measures to enhance trade and economic cooperation among the member countries.
Terrorism today is a global problem. All countries have to cooperate in dealing with it. I will take this opportunity to discuss the issue with the BIMSTEC leaders," Dr. Singh said.
"BIMSTEC had agreed commitment to cooperate in tackling the menace of terrorism," he said. Dr. Singh said acts as a bridge of mutual understanding and cooperation between South and South East Asia. It is an integral part of India's 'Look East' policy. "The developmental imperatives of our North-Eastern region are also an important element of our approach to BIMSTEC," he said.
