The employer of three Indians held hostage in Iraq has established contact with Sheikh Dulaimi, who is assisting in the resolution of the crisis, and is willing to take all necessary steps to facilitate the safe and early release of the captives, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said in Bangkok on Friday.

The Kuwait Gulf Link transport company has confirmed that it has established contact with Dulaimi.

A meeting between Dulaimi and a company representative is likely later in the day, he said.

The sheikh appealed to the abductors that they should not carry out their threat to execute one of the hostages on Friday evening and requested them to extend the deadline so as to give an opportunity for further negotiations, Singh added.

Dulaimi's statement follows an appeal by the Indian embassy in Baghdad on Thursday, Singh said.

The minister said, "We are in contact with the family members of the hostages to apprise them of the latest developments and to reassure them of the government's commitment to seek the safe and early return of their loved ones."

Asked if the government had learnt any lesson from the Khandahar hijacking of 1999, Singh said the two situations are not the same. "It's tragic and grave situation."