Indian travelers, be alert! If you have been planning to travel to Iraq, take note of MEA’s travel advisory! Any and all plans of leisure travel to Iraq can be postponed for another date. The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a travel advisory and tweeted the same to all citizens, asking them to avoid all non-essential travel to Iraq.
Official spokesperson of Union Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar on Wednesday has tweeted that all Indian nationals should avoid any non-essential visit to Iraq until the ministry issues any further information. Also, Indians living in Iraq have to also remain alert about the current situation and avoid travel within the country.
Kumar has also informed that Indian embassies in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil would function normally for any assistance to Indian citizens.
Our Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate in Erbil will continue to function normally to provide all services to Indians residing in Iraq.2/2
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 8, 2020
The government has also advised India-based airlines to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran and the Gulf, ANI has reported.
Government Sources: India tells all Indian carriers to avoid airspace of Iran, Iraq and the Gulf following tension in the region pic.twitter.com/ePTl7Vxjdr
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
Directorate General of Civil Aviation told ANI that a meeting with all the airlines concerned has taken place, in which the carriers have been sensitized towards the issue. The body has asked the airlines to remain vigilant and take all the necessary precautions.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation: We had held meetings with the concerned Airlines and have sensitized them to remain vigilant and take all precautions https://t.co/8g91GFYBI8
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2020
More details are awaited.