More Kashmiri students arrive in Qom from Tehran
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, June 17: Nearly 110 Indian students, including around 90 from Kashmir, reached the Armenian capital today after being evacuated by the Indian Embassy amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
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According to details, the students had earlier crossed the Iran-Armenia border and have now safely arrived in Yerevan, the capital, where they have been received and accommodated at a hostel by the Indian Embassy.
In the meantime, more Indian students including Kashmiris were today shifted to Qom from Tehran as the capital city continues to be under Israeli attack. A Kashmiri student shifted to Qom from Tehran yesterday told Excelsior that more students arrived in the city today taking the number of Indian students who were evacuated to the city to around 1500. “We may be taken to any neighbouring country for evacuation soon but there is no official word for the same yet,” she said.
Another student told Excelsior from Yerevan in Armenia over phone that they are being looked after well by the Embassy staff since this morning. “We arrived early today and have been assured that we will be airlifted tomorrow or day after,” he added.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association (JKSA), who is in touch with Kashmiri students in Iran as well as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), told Excelsior that 600 more Indian students have also been moved to Qom from Tehran. These students, he said, will proceed further as per official directions.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian students in Tehran have been relocated from the city for safety reasons, through arrangements made by the Indian Embassy.
“Other residents who are self sufficient in terms of transport have also been advised to move out of the city in view of the developing situation. Separately, some Indians have been facilitated to leave Iran through the border with Armenia,” the statement read.
Khuehami added that the students who have reached Armenia are likely to board a flight to Delhi tomorrow, with all necessary arrangements being facilitated in coordination with Indian authorities.
“There could be changes in the flight schedule, but most likely, it is set for tomorrow. Any updates will be shared accordingly,” he said.
According to the JKSA, there are around 1,300 Kashmiri students in Iran; however, parents contest this figure, claiming the actual number exceeds 3,000.
The parents of Kashmiri students currently in Iran today demanded their immediate evacuation, calling the ongoing relocation process “slow and time-consuming” amid the escalating tensions.
A number of anxious parents assembled at the Press Enclave here, urging the authorities to expedite the process to ensure the timely and safe return of their children from the war-torn country.
“There is no point in relocation; there has to be immediate evacuation because relocation is a slow process. We want it fast-tracked without further delay. Our children are suffering, facing panic attacks, and as parents, we cannot bear it,” said Neelofar, a parent from Rainawari.
As tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, the demand for evacuation of Kashmiri students studying in Iran has grown, prompting efforts to relocate them to Armenia.
Students from various parts of Iran are now being shifted to safer locations with no clear indication whether they will be brought back home till the situation eases up.
Some of the parents said their children informed them that they are on their way and that it would take nearly two days to reach the border from Qom.
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