In Laos capital, Jaishankar holds talks on trafficking issue with ASEAN leaders

Over 500 trapped Indian citizens have been rescued from the country so far, even as there is no official number on how many more are stuck. Last week, 13 Indians were rescued from cyber-scamming centres in Laos, as per the Indian Embassy statement.

S. Jaishankar, S. Jaishankar at ASEAN meeting, Vientiane, cyber attacks, cyber crimes, cyber threats, trafficking, illegal trafficking, human trafficking, Indian express news, current affairs

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone during a meeting in Vientiane. (PTI Photo)

On the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Vientiane, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a slew of meetings with his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of trafficking of Indian citizens through cyber scam centres and sought their early return. Hundreds of Indians are believed to be the victims of the cybercrime gangs operating in these countries.

“During my call, the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, took up the issue of the trafficking of Indian nationals through cyber scam centres,” Jaishankar said in a post on X. “Appreciate the ongoing cooperation of the Lao PDR government in the rescue and relief of our citizens. Also discussed the matter with the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand.”

Over 500 trapped Indian citizens have been rescued from the country so far, even as there is no official number on how many more are stuck. Last week, 13 Indians were rescued from cyber-scamming centres in Laos, as per the Indian Embassy statement.\

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“In our continued work to ensure the safety and well-being of Indians as top priority, the Embassy successfully rescues 13 Indians from cyber-scamming centres in Laos and ensures their safe return to India. So far, the Embassy has rescued 518 Indians. We thank Lao authorities for their cooperation,” it said.

The concern spans many Southeast Asian nations, including Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, where Indians are being forced to work for gangs operating cyber scam centres.

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Probing a human trafficking, cheating and criminal conspiracy angle against cybercriminals from Southeast Asian countries, the CBI has alleged in its recent FIR that an international network is involved in trafficking of Indians to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, where they are forced into cybercrimes at “Chinese control scam centres”. An FIR was lodged after meetings by the MHA with the Telecom Ministry, Reserve Bank of India and CBI.

At Vientiane, Jaishankar also held meetings with his counterparts from South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the European Union. With Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, he discussed enhancing the India-EU ties in various areas.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

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