New Delhi (NVI): India today modified its last month’s advisory for its citizens to travel to Iraq, saying they can now consider going to the country, except for five provinces where “unsafe security situation” prevails.
The advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said Indian nationals can now travel to Iraq, except five Provinces, namely Nineveh(Capital Mosul); Salahuddin (Capital Tikrit); Diyala (Capital Baquba); Anbar (Capital Ramadi) and Kirkuk, due to the prevailing unsafe security situation
The Indians wishing to travel for employment and already having work permits and appropriate visas may return to their jobs in the safe areas in Iraq other than those listed as unsafe areas, and inform the Embassy in Baghdad or Consulate General of India in Erbil prior to travelling to Iraq, it said.
Those Indian nationals wishing to travel for religious purposes, and having appropriate visa and return air-ticket, may also travel for pilgrimage to the holy places of Najaf and Karbala, the advisory said.
It advised the Indian nationals not to extend their religious pilgrimage to the neighbouring Syria and not travel by road from Iraq to Syria or vice-versa.
Earlier, in the wake of rising military tensions between Iran and the US and the missile attacks by Iran at US bases in Iraq, the Indian government had issued an advisory on January 8, cautioning Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Iraq, until further notification.
