May 31, 2026 06:00 am (IST)
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Prez expresses happiness over release of Indian nurses in Iraq
New Delhi, July 4 (IBNS): President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday expressed relief and happiness over the news that 46 Indian nurses have reached secure area in Iraq.
In a message, the President said, “I am happy and relieved that 46 nurses from Tikrit have reached a secure area in Iraq. I look forward to their early and safe return to India”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Friday confirmed that all the 46 Indian nurses are free from captivity now and are unharmed and unhurt while Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said they will be flown back by Saturday morning.
"It happened owing to enormous effort," said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin addressing media, adding that the External Affairs Minister also made tremendous efforts.
He said people were hopeless about situations but there was no hopeless situation.
He said the nurses were still in captivity (of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIS militants) according to their reports till a day ago. He said an Air India plane has taken off to bring them back.
"We will not leave any stoned unturned to get back our nationals," said Akbaruddin urging media to not run unreliable stories.
He said all tools are being used to secure the Indians. He refused to confirm or speak on any conditions accepted by India to secure the release saying it is an ongoing process.
He said all means were used to reach to the nurses and free them and contacts were not just at diplomatic levels but also at ground levels. He said India has friends both inside and outside Iraq.
Before Akbaruddin, addressing media in Kerala the chief minister said all nurses are safe and they will reach Kochi by morning of Saturday.
Chandy said a larger aircraft is being sent so that other Indians can be brought back too.
The International Red Cross earlier had confirmed that 46 Indian nurses caught in the fight between Iraqi forces and the ISIS militants have been freed and are bound for Erbil, according to a report in CNN IBN on Friday.
The nurses, the reports said, had called up their families in Kerala and said they will be dropped at Erbil Airport.
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