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In 2004, the government of prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh faced a difficult challenge when three Indian truckers were kidnapped in Iraq. The crisis was unlike any that India had witnessed before. Seven truckers consisting of three Indians, three Kenyans and one Egyptian were driving from Kuwait carrying non-lethal military-grade radio equipment for U.S. forces who had invaded Iraq a year ago.

The truckers reached Fallujah and asked for directions when the anti-U.S. fighters took them hostage on finding out that the trucks belonged to a Kuwaiti company that was supporting US invasion of Iraq.

Dr. Singhs government had taken charge in May, and the crisis began on 1 July. Given the situation in Iraq, especially in Fallujah, there was slim chance for the hostages to survive. Iraq had turned lawless after the 2003 invasion by the U.S.-led forces and Fallujah had emerged as a key centre for insurgents one of whom was the dreaded Abu Musav Al Zarqawi. Dr. Singh summoned E. Ahamed, then minister of state for external affairs to set up a team to rescue the truckers.

In the Prime Ministers office, Ahamed set up a special cell to monitor the situation. He summoned Indias ambassador to Oman, Talmiz Ahmad to Delhi and sent him to Baghdad along with Dr. Zikrur Rahman, diplomat and scholar of Arabic.

This team reached Baghdad on 1 August and began negotiation with a person nominated by the hostage takers. "We found that the kidnappers were not against India at all. They were in fact against Kuwait and the United States. Ahamed said that India should take care of all the hostages and not just the three Indians," said Talmiz Ahmad speaking to The Hindu from Dubai.

Kenya did not have a mission in Baghdad as the war had forced many countries to shut embassies in Iraq. "The hostage takers had demanded $20 million as ransom. But we said that it is not the policy of India to pay ransom as this would set up a wrong precedent," said Talmiz Ahmad recounting that finally the Kuwaitis paid a total of 300,000 USD as ransom to free the drivers.

Throughout the operation, E. Ahamed gave directions to his team in Baghdad and also set up meetings with Iraqi clerics. "Ahamed had local contacts especially among the clerics in Iraq who had a great deal of influence in the country and it was with the help of the clerics that we were able to bring back the truckers after weeks of negotiation," said Dr. Zikrur Rahman, former diplomat and academic.

The task of networking in Iraq was particularly difficult as for years the country was under the rule of Saddam Hussein who did not allow clerics to prosper. "He had an ability to strike a chord with the locals wherever he went and used these contacts to help Indians whenever they faced crisis," Dr. Rahman said.

After a month, the hostages were released and brought to the Indian embassy in Baghdad where they had lunch and were flown out to Kuwait. The three Indians reached home safely. "He truly cared about the under class of India who contribute most of the six million strong workers in the Gulf region," Talmiz Ahmad said.

E. Ahamed became a member of the Lok Sabha in 1991 but his focus always remained the welfare of Indians employed in West Asian and North African (WANA) region. This connection was first highlighted during the premiership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. To deal with a hostage crisis in Libya in the early 1990s, Rao sought Ahameds help in ensuring safety of the Indians in Libya which was at that time ruled by Muammar Gaddafi. Ahamed who had come into the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991 soon became known for his widespread contacts in the Gulf region. "His concern and affection was not just for people from Kerala but for all sections of Indians who work in the Gulf and North Africa," said Talmiz Ahmad.

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Diplomats recall E. Ahamed's role in 2004 rescue operation in Iraq - The Hindu