20 reach J&K, 70 more en-route
Srinagar, Jun 19: In view of the escalating war between Iran and Israel, at least 500 students of Kashmir studying in Iran are likely to board the flights to India from Turkmenistan on Friday.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) in this regard said that around 600 Indian students, including 500 from Kashmir, have been safely relocated from Qom to Mashhad, a border city in Iran, as part of the ongoing evacuation efforts.
National Convenor of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) Nasir Khuehami said: “This is the second group of students who were earlier moved to Qom, where they remained for three days. Their evacuation process is currently underway.”
“The students are from various institutions, including Islamic Azad University, Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Shahid Beheshti University. From Mashhad, they are expected to be taken to Turkmenistan, from where they will likely board flights to Delhi tomorrow,” he said.
JKSA further said that the association is in constant communication with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Iran to ensure the safety and smooth evacuation of the students.
According to JKSA, at least 90 students of Kashmir studying in Iran reached India from Armenia on Thursday.
Besides Kashmiri students, nearly 20 other students from other states have also reached India from the same batch.
Pertinently, the Embassy of India in Tehran on Monday had said that it has made arrangements for evacuation of Indian students and may be permitted to leave the Universities.
The Embassy of India, Tehran in an official communique to different universities said, “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.”
Those who reached Delhi, as they thanked the Centre for the help, the students expressed displeasure over the buses provided by the Omar Abdullah government to take them home from the national capital.
After they boarded the buses for J&K in Delhi, some students posted pictures alleging the poor quality of buses made available to them to return home in the union territory.
Following these complaints, office of J&K chief minister, Omar Abdullah said on X, “The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J&K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged.”
CM Omar Abdullah earlier said on X, “94 of our students evacuated from Iran have safely reached Delhi. Govt is making transport arrangements for their smooth journey home, which will be in place within the next few hours”.
The CM had earlier spoken to Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting the safety of J&K students stuck in Iran.
Kashmiri Shia leader and MP, Aga Syed Ruhullah, had said earlier that Israel had hit a hostel occupied by Kashmiri students, and some students sustained minor injuries in that strike.
The MEA has made arrangements to evacuate all Indian students from Iran and also ensure the safety of Indian professionals engaged in various professions as doctors, engineers, etc., in Iran.
A good number of Kashmiri students are studying medicine in Iran. The Valley has a sizeable Shia Muslim population with close religious affinity with the predominantly Shia Muslim majority of Iran.
Most of the Shia scholars of Kashmir have had their religious learning in Iran. Both Sunni and Shia Muslim religious leaders of Kashmir have condemned Israeli strikes against Iran.
They have called for the immediate cessation of hostilities from both sides. Iran and Israel are locked in the worst hostilities against each other, and both countries have carried out missile strikes against civilians.
Iran-Israel Conflict: 500 more Kashmiri students to fly home today
