External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called up the Foreign Ministers of six Gulf countries and sought their help as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS millitants forced 46 Indian nurses stranded in Tikrit to move out.

Contacts have also been established at high level with officials of Turkey, Jordan and Syria.

Sushma Swaraj called up the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

Sources said, they have all been extremely positive and have assured assistance in the current situation.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin however refused to reveal who has taken the Indian nurses and to which destination. Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, he said the nurses moved for their own safety as there is no freewill in a conflict zone. Asked if they are hurt, he said some of them have suffered minor injuries caused by breaking of glass. The rest are unharmed and safe. Akbaruddin said the Indian Mission is in touch with the nurses even as they moved to another location.

The spokesperson said that 39 other Indian nationals, who are in capitivity, are unharmed. He informed that about 900 nationals have been provided tickets to fly out of Iraq. He said nearly 1500 nationals in Karbala, Najaf and Basra have registered to depart the country. Some Indians in Erbil have also indicated their willingness to leave.