J&K Students Association writes to EAM Jaishankar, seeks urgent evacuation of Kashmiri students amid Iran-Israel escalation

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to the Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention for the evacuation of hundreds of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.In a detailed letter, the Association expressed grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation following Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the subsequent retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran. It stated that the region now stands on the brink of a full-scale war, leaving students from Jammu and Kashmir terrified and vulnerable.

The volatile environment has left thousands of Indian students, the majority from the Kashmir Valley, exposed to immediate and serious danger. These students had traveled to Iran to pursue professional education, particularly MBBS degrees, attracted by the country's affordable academic infrastructure. Now, they find themselves caught in the midst of a conflict zone, fearing for their lives.National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that several students are enrolled in universities located near military installations and strategic sites, placing them at heightened risk.

Many have reported hearing airstrike sirens, experiencing tremors, and observing increased military activity in their vicinity. Some are even based in cities where airstrikes have already occurred. The situation, he added, has deteriorated rapidly since last night, leaving students frightened and helpless.Despite repeated attempts to reach out to the Indian Embassy in Tehran, students have received little clarity or reassurance. Families back home, especially in Kashmir, are extremely distressed and have been making desperate appeals for their children’s safety, he said.“Many students have told us,

‘We are very scared. Our parents back home are extremely worried.’ We are receiving a growing number of distress calls from families who are in tears, pleading for their children to be brought back safely. Every passing minute without information is unbearable for them,” Khuehami said.He urged the External Affairs Minister to take swift and proactive action. The Association called for the immediate establishment of direct communication channels between the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the students, along with the regular dissemination of verified safety advisories and emergency protocols.The Association also stressed the need for a comprehensive evacuation plan to be prepared and kept ready. If the situation continues to escalate or critical infrastructure is targeted, timely evacuation could mean the difference between life and death.

The government must remain prepared to act swiftly and decisively to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens.The Association appealed to the Ministry to coordinate closely with the Iranian government and relevant international agencies to ensure the protection and, if needed, the safe passage of Indian students. Describing the situation as a humanitarian emergency, the Association emphasized that any delay in action could put lives further at risk and deepen the anguish of thousands of families.“The students from Jammu and Kashmir currently in Iran are our collective responsibility. Their safety and timely return must be treated as a national priority,” Khuehami added.