Srinagar: In the wake of Iran situation, the Jammu and Kashmir government has geared up for the safety of Kashmiri students and others presently living in the disturbed country with Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah taking up the issue with External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar.
Taking to X, CM Abdullah today posted: “Just spoke to EAM @DrSJaishankar ji about the evolving situation in Iran. He shared his assessment of the ground situation & the plans that the External Affairs Ministry is working on. I’m grateful for his assurance that all steps will be taken to safeguard the interests & lives of students & other people from J&K who are in Iran now”.
Following CM’s conversation with EAM, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has nominated an officer to coordinate and liaison with the concerned agencies for the welfare and safety of residents and students from the Union Territory presently in the country.
According to an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Anil Sharma, JKAS, Additional Resident Commissioner of the J&K Government in New Delhi, has been designated as the Nodal Officer for coordination and liaison in this regard.
As per the order, the designated officer will coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the concerned Embassy and Consular authorities, and other relevant agencies to facilitate information sharing, coordination and necessary interventions relating to the safety, welfare, travel facilitation and related matters of the residents/students of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in Iran.
The evacuation process initiated by the Indian Embassy has been kept on hold until further notice. The earlier evacuation decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure in view of war-related concerns. However, following official confirmation that no war like situation or further escalation is expected, it is now clear that there is no requirement for evacuation at this time.
Earlier, according to information shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, all students have been duly registered and their personal details and passports have already been collected by the Indian Embassy in Iran. The first batch of students has been instructed to remain ready by 8:00 AM for onward evacuation.
It said that Embassy officials are in direct contact with the students, and in the event that an evacuation becomes necessary, they will personally visit the students and inform them through official channels.
The association, as per a local news agency, KNT, said it is most likely that students from Golestan University and a few students from SBUMS and TUMS will be part of the first evacuation batch scheduled to arrive in Delhi tomorrow. The final passenger list is expected to be shared later tonight once it is formally confirmed by the authorities.
Student body said the reopening of airspace and commencement of evacuation flights has eased widespread anxiety among students and their families, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, where parents have been under severe stress due to the deteriorating security situation in Iran.
The evacuation process is being coordinated by Indian authorities in close liaison with the Embassy, with further flights expected in the coming days to ensure the safe return of all remaining students.
Families and student representatives expressed hope that the evacuation operation will continue smoothly and safely until every stranded student is brought back home.
Parents of Kashmiri students in Iran appeal to Centre to bring their children back
The parents of Kashmiri students currently studying in Iran have appealed to the Centre to bring their children back amid ongoing tensions in the country. Scores of concerned parents gathered at the Press Enclave here, urging the government to intervene.
“We appeal to the prime minister, the external affairs minister, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and the lieutenant governor to evacuate the students from Iran,” a parent told reporters here on Wednesday.
He expressed confidence in the government’s ability to conduct an evacuation, recalling previous successful operations in countries like Ukraine and Iran. “We are grateful for the support the Centre has provided to students in the past. We are sure the government will not let the situation reach a point when the children get harmed and can facilitate their departure quickly,” he added.
The parents claimed that the Indian Embassy in Tehran had advised the students to leave the country on their own.
“They are asking the students to contact their parents and arrange their travel independently. We can connect to our children through ISD calls, but with great difficulty, and we urge the authorities at both the Union Territory and the Centre to help facilitate their evacuation,” he mentioned further.
Another distressed parent sought immediate government action, saying, “We are very worried and need the government to undertake the evacuation as they did previously.”
The mother of one student emphasised the difficulty parents are facing in sending travel tickets due to an internet shutdown in Iran. “I urge the government to remove the students from there. Even if we book tickets for them, we cannot send them because of the internet blockade. It is nearly impossible for them. They should be evacuated as soon as possible,” she said.
The protests began late last month in Tehran after the Iranian currency rial plunged to record lows. The protests have since spread to all 31 provinces, evolving from an agitation against economic woes to a demand for political change.
The overall situation in the country in the last few days has deteriorated dramatically as the death toll from the nationwide protests has increased to over 2,500, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). (PTI)
