REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Foreign Ministry still could not confirm whether 16 Indonesian citizens who have gone missing in Turkey are linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.

By Wednesday Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi could not yet give an official confirmation of the matter to President Joko Widodo, Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjojanto said at the Presidential Office here on Wednesday.

"Until today the foreign minister has yet to give a confirmation," Andi said.

He said the Presidential Palace was waiting for an official confirmation of the matter to take steps.

"There has not been confirmation of whether the Indonesian citizens who have gone missing are joining the ISIS group," he said.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry said it was still studying the possibility of 16 Indonesians joining the ISIS group.

To get further information about the whereabouts of them the ministry has asked assistance from the National Police (Polri), the National Defense Forces (TNI), the National Intelligence Board (BIN) and the National Counter-Terrorism Agency.

It is believed that the 16 Indonesian citizens intentionally separated themselves from the group that was on a trip to Turkey. The group comprised some 24 travelers. They had gone to Turkey on a tour arranged by a travel agent, Smiling Tour.

The Indonesian government has sent a team to Turkey to look for 16 Indonesian nationals who are "missing" in the Mediterranean country, Arrmanatha Nasir, a spokesman of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry, said here, Monday.

"There is already a team from Indonesia there to help the Turkish security authorities (find the 16 people)," Arrmanatha said.

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