Date:27/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/27/stories/2008122758420100.htm

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Steps on to get hostage released: Union Minister

Special Correspondent

‘Negotiations with the militant group in Afghanistan going on’

The group has sought a ransom of $ 50,000
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has also voiced concerns at the safety of the hostage

CHENNAI: The Union government is taking all possible steps to secure the release of the Indian national who had been kidnapped and held hostage by a militant group in Afghanistan, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Ravi said that the government and his Ministry understood the agony and anxiety of the family of 38-year-old Simon Paramanandam of Tamil Nadu who was abducted by Afghan militants in Herath province in Afghanistan two months ago.

“We are negotiating the release of the hostage with the militant group behind the kidnapping…we are also in constant touch with Kabul.”

The Indian Embassy in Kabul is negotiating the release of the hostage through the Afghan government.

Going by latest reports from Afghanistan, the militant group has sought a ransom of $ 50,000.

Mr. Ravi said that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had also voiced concerns at the safety of the hostage when they met on Friday morning.

Diplomatic missions

The Chief Minister urged the government and diplomatic missions concerned to do everything possible to secure the release of Simon who hails from Kallakurichi village in Villupuram district.

Mr. Ravi disagreed with a reporter’s contention that the Centre had been tardy in making a diplomatic response to the hostage crisis, which happened almost two months ago.

To another question on the ongoing negotiations with the abductors, Mr. Ravi said he could “not divulge the specifics of the strategy.”

The Union government followed a policy of discouraging Indians from visiting Iraq, in view of their safety, the Minister said.

However, many Indians still chose to travel to Iraq via Kuwait, he said.

He pointed to several instances in the past when the Centre and the overseas diplomatic missions had intervened to bring back people in distress from places such as Africa and Lebanon.

On the safety of Indians in Pakistan, Mr. Ravi conceded that the government did not have ready access to information on this.

He, however, agreed on the need to do a status check on the safety of Indians in Pakistan.