12000 Indians in Lebanon asked to keep papers ready

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) India has asked its 12000 nationals in Lebanon to keep their documents ready for any eventuality so that they could be pulled out from the war zone where the situation has become ''grave enough to warrant concern'', -- Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said today.

Speaking to reporters after talks with visiting Equador Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion Mena, Mr Sharma said India had, however, not taken any decision on pulling out the 672 Indian troops who are part of the United Nations Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

''There has been no decision as far as (Indian) troops are concerned. They are part of the multi-national force'' (UNIFIL), Mr Sharma added.

One Indian soldier of the UNIFIL was injured yesterday after he was hit by a sharpnel from Israeli bombing in Lebanon. India protested to Israel against the incident. Israel later regretted the incident.

Describing the situation in Lebanon as ''grave enough to warrant concern'', the Minister said India had also sent an advisory to all the Indian nationals to keep their documents and papers ready.

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