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IAF on standby to evacuate
Indians from war zone
Fakir Chand in Bangalore |
March 21, 2003 14:59 IST
Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said the Indian Air Force is ready for speedy evacuation of Indians living or working in the Gulf region where US-led forces have invaded Iraq.
Addressing the media in Bangalore after witnessing the first official test flight of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT36), Fernandes said the IAF transport fleet would join Air-India and Indian Airlines in case the war dragged on and the need for mass evacuation of Indians arose.
"Air India and Indian Airlines have already started bringing Indians from Kuwait and other countries in the region. Even foreign airlines have pressed additional flights into service," Fernandes said.
Fernandes told rediff.com that the IAF is ready to join evacuation operations whenever the government desires.
According to sources in the external affairs ministry, about three million Indians live in the Gulf region, mostly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Iraq, Fernandes said, "The unilateral action of the US and UK against Iraq amounts to undermining the authority of the United Nations on member countries."
"The US-led war is unjust. It would only give a fresh impetus to terrorism," Fernandes fumed.
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Number of User Comments: 6
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Sub: A reply
Dear Mr. Fernandes , appreciate your concern for the indians specially when u have decided to use IAF aircraft for this job ....
Posted by Samir Bose
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Sub: reality frm kuwait
Dear reader, This is to bring to your information that the Indian airlines service is carrying on but they have raised the fare from 75 ...
Posted by intekhab alam
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Sub: we are in now kuwait
sir we are working in kuwait cement comapny.we are atleast here 150 persons.we want to come .so what can arrange indain govt.here all are said ...
Posted by atluri siva lakshami prasad
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Sub: evacuation
start it before its too late. im in kuwait the war is becoming more and more risky for indians in kuwait our govt is still ...
Posted by anthony nicholas
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Sub: George please shut up
We all know the war is unjust but george fernandes being a minister should know better than making public statements like this,at the interest of ...
Posted by Nidheesh Manu
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