Kashmiri students stuck in Iran
Operation Sindhu has brought much-needed relief to hundreds of anxious families across Jammu and Kashmir. In the last few days alone, flights carrying nearly a thousand Indian students, many of them from Kashmir, have touched down safely in Delhi after days of uncertainty amid the dangerous flare-up between Israel and Iran. For this, the central government, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Embassy in Tehran deserve heartfelt gratitude.
But the mission is far from over. By the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association’s own account, over 700 Kashmiri students remain stranded in Iranian cities including Tehran, Kerman, Shiraz, Gilan, Arak, and even remote Kish Island. Parents back home are battling sleepless nights, glued to their phones for updates. Their relief at seeing some students step off rescue flights is overshadowed by a gnawing fear: what about the rest?
Kish Island in particular has become a source of concern for many parents. Around 40 Kashmiri students pursuing medicine and engineering at the Kish campus of Tehran University of Medical Sciences are reportedly still without a clear evacuation plan. With supply shortages and an escalating crisis, their families rightly plead for urgent intervention.
To its credit, the union government has a proud track record of not abandoning its citizens in foreign conflicts. Operation Sindhu has so far proven that commitment. But as long as a single student remains stuck in a conflict zone, the job is unfinished.
Parents and the Students Association have made it clear: every Kashmiri youth must be relocated to safety first and flown home without delay. Coordinated efforts between the MEA, the Embassy in Tehran, and local Iranian authorities have to be doubled down on, especially for those in more remote areas.
These youth went abroad to chase dreams of knowledge and professional growth. They must not be left to feel forgotten at the worst possible time. Their safe return is not just a logistical task, it is a national responsibility and a moral duty. Operation Sindhu must continue until the last Kashmiri student sets foot safely back home. Let’s not stop short.
