‘In touch with Iranian authorities’: MEA on three Indians missing in Iran
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that India is in touch with Iran to locate the three Indian nationals, who went missing in Tehran.
During the press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that they were extending all possible help to the family members of the three persons who are missing.
"The three Indian nationals who had landed in Tehran, Iran, some time back, are missing. We are in touch with the Iranian authorities for locating them, their safety and security, and their eventual return home. We are receiving good cooperation from the Iranian side and we are also in touch with the families of the missing people. We are extending all possible help," said Jaiswal.
The Indian mission in Tehran on Wednesday said that three Indian citizens went missing while they were travelling to Iran.
Those missing were residents of Sangrur, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab. They took a flight from Delhi and were supposed to reach Australia on a work permit. However, it was alleged that the agents took them to Iran and later they were kidnapped.
The family of the missing persons accused the agents and alleged that they have been abducted since May 1 and the kidnappers have demanded ransom to release them.
While reiterating India's stand on Pakistan MEA said that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand.
"Any engagement has to be bilateral," he said. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also added that Pakistan should hand over the noted terrorists residing in the country, whose lists were handed over to authorities years ago.
Jaiswal said that talks on Jammu and Kashmir will be held only on the vacating of PoK and when Pakistan hands over the territory to India.
While responding to the questions on the Indus Waters Treaty, MEA said that it will continue to be in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism.
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