New Delhi: Government today (July 14, 2004) said 6,944 Indians were languishing in foreign jails and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia topped the list with 1,182 and 1,160 prisoners respectively.

Number of Indians jailed abroad included 738 in Bangladesh, UAE (597), Malaysia (568), Singapore (345), UK (233), Ukraine (231), Greece (198), France (190), Israel (170), Lebanon (160) Netherlands (152), Bahrain (163), Kuwait (134) Russian Federation (120), USA (101) and Cyprus (49).

Stating this in New Delhi, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said Indian Missions and Posts provide all possible assistance in such cases.

In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, he said this assistance included getting Indian nationals released if possible, meeting them, ensuring that there is no miscarriage of justice, facilitating speedy trials and enabling proper living conditions and treatment in the prisons.

In reply to another query, he said, an estimated 5,052 Indians are said to be working in Iraq currently.

On a question on protection of Indians in Gulf countries, he said eight Indians were killed when on May 29 terrorists attacked the Office of Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation in Al Khobar.

"The Government is closely monitoring security situation in the Gulf countries with particular attention being paid to developments that may have a bearing on security and well being of the Indians working there," he added.