The three Indian hostages held captive in Iraq were safe but their release would take some more time, Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed said on Wednesday.

"In these matters you cannot have a timeframe. It will take some more time," Ahmed said, while talking to reporters at the airport on his way to attend a conference at Colombo.

Ahmed said the Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) transport company, which employed the three Indians, had been assigned the task of getting the hostages released as early as possible.

"We are not having direct negotiations. It is being done by the company. Our ambassadors in Baghdad and Kuwait are in touch with them (KGL)," he said.

Ahmed said in such matters one had to be "careful and cautious" because of the security situation in Iraq.

"It is bound to take some more time. Our hostages are very safe, and very well looked after, according to the information given by KGL," he said.

The three Indians -- Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh -- along with three Kenyans and an Egyptian are in captivity since July 21.

On Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa asking the Centre not to go ahead with the ferry service between Tuticorin and Colombo on security grounds, Ahmed said he did not want to comment on this.

"Government of India has a policy and it will be according to this policy. We have best of relationship with our neigbours," he said.