Sushma Swaraj to raise issue of 11 Indian prisoners with Oman

Muscat, Feb 18: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that she will raise the issue of 11 Indians - currently in jails in Oman - during her meetings with the oil-rich Gulf nation's top leadership on Wednesday.

"I will raise the issue of 11 Indians who are in Omani jails in some cases," she said while speaking in Hindi during an interaction with the Indian community here.

Swaraj will meet her counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah and hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said tomorrow. She assured the Indian community that the matter would be resolved.

The 11 Indians were jailed after change in rules in the oil-rich Gulf nation.

Swaraj arrived here on Tuesday on her first two-day official visit to Oman for talks with the Gulf nation's top leadership and review bilateral political, economic, defence and security issues as well as the regional situation.

Over seven lakh Indians work in Oman in various sectors and they form the largest expatriate group in the country. They also repatriate around USD 3 billion annually. Swaraj praised the Indian community in Oman, saying "We are proud of your achievements."

PTI