J&K Students Association writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks urgent evacuation of Kashmiri students from Iran Amid conflict

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association here on Monday has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention for the evacuation of hundreds of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid the rapidly escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.In a detailed and urgent letter, the Association expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation following Israel’s preemptive airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and the subsequent barrage of retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran.

The Association warned that the region now stands at the brink of a full-scale war, leaving Indian students, especially those from Jammu and Kashmir, terrified, helpless, and dangerously exposed.The volatile environment has left thousands of Indian students, the majority hailing from Kashmir Valley, at risk of immediate harm. These students had travelled to Iran to pursue professional education, particularly MBBS degrees, owing to the country’s economically viable academic infrastructure. Now, they find themselves stranded in the midst of a high-intensity military conflict, fearing for their lives and with no clear way out.

National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that many students are enrolled in colleges and universities located dangerously close to key military installations and strategic targets. Students have reported hearing airstrike sirens, experiencing tremors, and observing intensified military activity in their surroundings. He said that the situation has deteriorated rapidly since last night, and that some students are even in cities where direct Israeli airstrikes have already occurred.The letter highlights a deeply alarming incident that took place on Sunday evening, when an attack occurred near the boys’ dormitory for international students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Hujjatdost Dormitory).

Two Indian students from the Kashmir Valley were injured in the incident. Fortunately, both students are now stable and are being relocated to a safer village in Ramsar by university authorities.Khuehami said that the students are living in constant fear and trauma, under extreme psychological stress and insecurity. “Their parents are deeply distressed and anxious for their children’s safety,” he said. “Many students are messaging us, saying, ‘We are very scared. Our parents back home are extremely worried.’ The atmosphere is filled with fear and uncertainty.

”“Every passing minute without information from the authorities is agonizing,” Khuehami said. “Parents have pointed out that students from several other countries have already been evacuated, while Indian students continue to wait anxiously. One parent said to us, ‘People from many countries have left, but our children remain. Nobody is asking about us. We feel abandoned.’”The Association urged the Prime Minister to direct the External Affairs Ministry to take immediate steps for relocating the students to safer areas within Iran and begin urgent evacuation efforts.

Such action would bring much-needed relief and assurance to hundreds of distressed families back home, particularly in Kashmir.Khuehami added that the government must also formulate and activate a comprehensive evacuation plan in anticipation of the situation worsening. “If critical infrastructure comes under sustained attack or airspace is closed suddenly, timely evacuation could mean the difference between life and death,” he said.The Association also appealed to the Government of India to coordinate urgently with the Iranian authorities and relevant international agencies to guarantee the safety and, if needed, the safe passage of Indian students trapped in conflict-affected areas.

This is a humanitarian emergency. The lives, safety, and mental well-being of our youth are at stake. We cannot wait for the situation to deteriorate further before we act. Timely intervention will not only save lives but also reassure the thousands of families in Kashmir who are living in fear for their children,” Khuehami said.He urged the Prime Minister to treat this as a national priority. “The students from Jammu and Kashmir currently in Iran are our collective responsibility. Their safety and timely return must be treated with the utmost urgency.”