Kashmiri Families Urge Evacuation of Students from Iran Amid Escalating Tensions

Srinagar: Families of Kashmiri students studying in Iran have appealed to the Indian government to arrange their immediate evacuation, citing growing fears over the safety of their children amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
An estimated 1,300 students from Jammu and Kashmir, many pursuing medical education, are currently studying in various Iranian cities including Tehran and Qom. The rising threat of regional conflict has triggered panic among their families, who say deteriorating conditions and poor communication are compounding their concerns.
“Some students have been shifted to relatively safer areas, but many are still in high-risk zones. We’re unable to maintain regular contact due to poor connectivity,” said Mohammad Ayoub, whose niece is enrolled at a medical university in Tehran. He added that her hostel has been without electricity and water for several days.
Another family reported that their daughter, also studying in Tehran, was recently moved to Qom. “She said that Indian students are being relocated to safer cities and will be flown home once air services resume,” the family told Deshabhimani.
Iran has historically been a preferred destination for Kashmiri students, especially for those seeking affordable medical and religious education. Centuries-old cultural and spiritual links between Kashmir and Iran — shaped by the arrival of Sufi saints and scholars from Khorasan in the 13th and 14th centuries — continue to influence Kashmiri society, literature, and architecture.
Amid growing anxiety, political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir have reached out to the central government, calling for immediate intervention.
Shia leader and Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said he has been in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “I have urged the government to ensure that students are moved to safer areas within Iran,” he told reporters in Ganderbal.
National Conference MP Omar Abdullah also raised the issue with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. “The Minister assured me that the MEA is in touch with its counterparts in Iran and is monitoring the situation closely to ensure students’ safety,” Abdullah posted on X (formerly Twitter) on June 15.
Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed serious concern over unconfirmed reports that a hostel housing Kashmiri students may have been struck in an Israeli air raid. “Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported. But the fear and distress among the families are real,” he said.
As tensions in the region continue to rise, Kashmiri families are anxiously awaiting concrete steps from the Indian government to bring their children home safely.