External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met top Indian envoys in Gulf countries including Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia in New Delhi today to discuss steps for rescue of Indian nationals stranded in strife-torn areas of Iraq. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, in a tweet, said situation in Iraq and assistance to Indians were discussed in threadbare in the meeting . Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and officials of the National Crisis Management Committee were among those present at the meeting.

The meeting was aimed at chalking out a future strategy for the safety and evacuation of Indian nationals in Iraq. The meeting also reviewed the steps taken so far in this regard.

Three camp offices have already been set up to facilitate departure of 10,000 Indians from non-conflicting zones. Akbaruddin said, the officers in the camps will go to the place of work of Indians and facilitate their departure if they want so. He said the Ministry will provide travel documents and free air tickets to the stranded Indians who cannot afford them.