By IANS
New Delhi : The government’s success in bringing back three Indian truck drivers kidnapped in Iraq in 2004 was an example of its crisis management capability, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said Tuesday as he released a book on the incident.
“That (event) showed that the Indian government is rather good in crisis management. When it gets down to it, it does it well,” said Ansari.
Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, who chaired the crisis management committee set up after the kidnapping, was the guest of honour at the launch of the book, “Anatomy of an Abduction – How the Indian hostages in Iraq were freed” by journalist V. Sudarshan.
“The success is a tribute to Indian diplomats, who I believe are among the best in the world,” said Ahamed.
In July 2004, three Indian drivers, three Kenyans and an Egyptian carrying electronic equipment for American forces were abducted by Iraqi insurgents.
The book relates how the Indian government had to work in secrecy as its diplomats in Iraq negotiated directly with the abductors to get the three released.