Efforts to secure release of three abducted Indians in Iraq gained momentum on Friday with a representative of the company employing them holding face-to-face talks with the abductors' negotiator Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi.
The crucial meeting between Dulaimi and the unidentified representative of Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) transport company at an undisclosed place was part of the 'wrapping up' of the negotiations, sources told PTI.
Details of the meeting were not available, with the sources saying it could damage the efforts which were at a 'sensitive stage'.
KGL spokesperson Rana Abu-Zaineh refused to comment on the meeting but expressed optimism that the hostages -- Tilak Raj, Antaryami and Sukhdeo Singh -- would be freed soon by the Iraqi militant group 'Islamic Secret Army - Holders of Black Banners'.
"I can only confirm that something is cooking," she told PTI over phone from Kuwait.
"You may hear the good news very soon," she added.
The Crisis Management Group, presided over by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed, held two rounds of meeting today to take stock of the situation and will meet again tomorrow morning.
KGL had earlier appointed Mahdi Saleh as its representative for negotiations with Dulaimi on July 31, ten
days after the abduction, but the talks broke down on Sunday when Dulaimi said the kidnappers had not asked him to continue.
Dulaimi had also accused KGL of not being serious. But three days later he announced the abductors had asked him to continue ngotiations.
KGL has emphasised that it has agreed to meet all demands of the abductors. The militant group had demanded that KGL end its operations in Iraq and pay compensation to 250 victims of US-led action in Fallujah.
Ahmed, who is closely monitoring the hostage crisis, cancelled his foreign trip to Brunei, Singapore, Samoa and Malaysia.
In Samoa, he was to represent India at the meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum. India is a post-Forum dialogue partner while he was undertaking bilateral visits to the other countries.
Close on the heels of appeals by the government, president of the Kerala State Muslim League, Syed Mohammad Ali Shihab Thangal, a spiritual and political leader, today made an appeal during Friday prayers for the early release of the hostages so that they can join their families.
Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdeo Singh, all plying trucks for KGL, were abducted in Iraq on July 21.
