Four of the seven hostages from
India, Kenya and Egypt are seen at an undisclosed location just before their release on Wednesday.
— AP/PTI photo |
New Delhi, September 1
The three Indian hostages in Iraq were released after 42 days of their incarceration and brought from Baghdad to Kuwait by a special plane, barely a day after the brutal killing of 12 Nepali hostages in Iraq.
Only three or four top officials, including intelligence top brass, were aware since last night of the imminent release of the hostages but the unfolding drama was accorded budget-level secrecy, perhaps in view of last-minute hitches in their release about a fortnight ago.
The released hostages would return here on Friday morning, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said late tonight.
Though the development — the first good news of the UPA government in 100 days of its existence — was announced by External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh with his deputy E. Ahamed by his side, the two ministers themselves remained unaware of the big news till about 4.30 pm.
The Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV channel broke the news of the release of the seven hostages — three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian. This news was promptly denied by the hostages’ Kuwaiti employer-company KGL, though it remained unclear why.
The seven released truck drivers appeared happy and healthy as they spoke at length with Al Arabiya. In response to a question how they were treated, the Egyptian hostage Mohammed Sanad told the channel: “They taught us religion and how to pray.”
Al Arabiya also broadcast a statement on behalf of the hostage-takers — “Secret Islamic Army: Holders of Black Banners”. The captors declared victory and said they had forced the Kuwaiti company, Kuwait Gulf and Link (KGL), to leave Iraq. KGL had announced on August 27 that it had stopped working in Iraq in response to the kidnappers’ demands.
The kidnappers vowed to carry out more attacks on anyone assisting US troops in Iraq.
“After our demands have been met by forcing the Kuwaiti company, which is transporting goods to the infidel Americans, to withdraw from Iraq, we have decided to release the seven hostages held by us. We swear by God not to be merciful with those who help the occupier and we vow to strike them with an iron fist,” the kidnappers said in a statement.
An AFP report from Fallujah quoted its correspondent witnessing the release of the seven truckers in the rebel-dominated western city of Iraq. It said all seven truckers were whisked away to the Indian Embassy in Baghdad and then to the airport.
The news of the hostages’ release was announced here by Mr Natwar Singh at a hurriedly convened Press conference. He said his deputy, Mr E. Ahamed had
spoken to the families of the hostages and one hostage, Antaryami, in Baghdad. “They are very relieved and so are we. We have had very anxious moments and it is a matter of great relief”, Mr Natwar Singh said and thanked Mr Ahamed for the long hours he had put in the last forty days working almost round-the-clock monitoring the hostage developments.
Mr Ahamed said he had conveyed the good tidings to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who also expressed happiness over the development.
Mr Natwar Singh said Mr Ahamed had already spoken to Indian Ambassador in Oman Talmiz Ahmed, who was sent by the government as its Special Envoy to negotiate the release of the hostages, as well as to the families of the three kidnapped Indians.
Asked why the released hostages are not being flown in here tomorrow, a top source said this was required for certain reasons. When pressed further by this correspondent whether this was to facilitate their grilling by Indian and American intelligence agencies, the source said: “They are in our custody. There is no question of their grilling by the Americans or any one else.”
The source confirmed that the role of KGL and Mr Talmeez Ahmed proved to be crucial, in that order, in securing the release of the hostages. The source also categorically stated that there was only one new mediator after KGL had refused to continue negotiations with the earlier mediator, Sheikh Al Dulaimi.
A report quoting the KGL said it had not ceased operations in Iraq and had paid more than half a million dollars as ransom to the kidnappers.
“We did not cease our operations in Iraq” as demanded by the kidnappers, KGL president Saeed Ismail al-Dashti said.
Mr Dashti said the company last paid half a million dollars to the kidnappers to secure the hostages’ release, but other payments had been made before.
He declined to disclose the amounts of the previous payments.
