Srinagar: As tensions continue to rise between Iran and Israel, around 500 Kashmiri students are expected to board flights to India from Turkmenistan on Friday, marking the second phase of an ongoing evacuation operation.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) confirmed that nearly 600 Indian students—500 of them from Kashmir—have already been safely relocated from Qom to Mashhad, a border city in Iran, as part of the evacuation efforts.
Nasir Khuehami, the National Convenor of JKSA, told the wire news gathering agency – KNO that this group had initially been moved to Qom, where they stayed for three days. “Evacuation is underway. These students belong to various institutions including Islamic Azad University, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Shahid Beheshti University. From Mashhad, they will be transported to Turkmenistan, and from there, flown to Delhi on Friday,” he said.
Khuehami added that JKSA is in regular contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Iran to facilitate the safe and smooth return of all students.
Meanwhile, 90 Kashmiri students who were evacuated earlier have already landed in India from Armenia. Around 20 other students from different Indian states were also part of this first group, with 20 students having reached Jammu and Kashmir, and 70 currently en route.
Earlier this week, the Indian Embassy in Tehran had officially informed Iranian universities that arrangements were being made for student evacuations. “We have made arrangements for their evacuation. They may be permitted to leave the University, as being facilitated by the Embassy of India, Tehran. The Embassy of India, Tehran takes this responsibility for this planned movement and security of the Indian students,” the embassy stated in a communication.
The evacuation operation continues to prioritize student safety amid the deteriorating regional situation.
