Home at Last: First Batch of Kashmiri Students Evacuated from Conflict-Hit Iran

Ulfat Jaan

Srinagar June : 19 The first batch of nine Kashmiri students stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned home on Thursday, bringing both relief and frustration. Their arrival marked the beginning of a critical evacuation mission for hundreds still awaiting rescue.
Among the returnees was Saba, a resident of Srinagar’s Safa Kadal, who was tearfully embraced by her family. “I can’t describe my relief at being home,” she said. “But the journey back was grueling—after escaping a warzone, we were forced to take a 12-hour bus ride from Delhi.”
Her grievance echoed a broader discontent among evacuated students, who accused the Jammu & Kashmir administration of inadequate support. “We risked our lives to get out of Iran, only to be treated like an afterthought,” Saba said, referring to the government’s decision to transport them via SRTC buses instead of arranging flights.
In response, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s office stated that sleeper buses had been arranged for the students’ “safe and comfortable”return, adding that authorities were “monitoring the situation closely.”
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) revealed that nearly 600 Indian students—including 500 Kashmiris—had been moved from Qom to Mashhad, a safer border city, as part of ongoing evacuation efforts.
“These students endured a 15-hour road journey to reach Mashhad,”said JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami. “From there, they will cross into Turkmenistan before flying to Delhi.”
The Association praised the Indian government’s intervention but urged faster coordination, noting that hundreds remain in precarious conditions. “We’re grateful for the rescue, but time is critical,” Khuehami emphasized.
The evacuation comes a day after 94 Kashmiri students landed in Delhi, with more expected in the coming days.