Srinagar, Jan 15 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the safety of Kashmiri students and residents in Iran after families called for urgent evacuation amid unrest in the country.
“Just spoke to EAM 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,” CM Omar posted on X.
The appeal comes after dozens of distressed parents gathered at the Press Colony in Srinagar on Wednesday, urging the Government of India to act swiftly. They addressed letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, and the J&K administration, calling for evacuation of their children.
“We are not sleeping at night. Every hour feels like a day,” said one father, whose daughter studies at Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran.
“Internet is gone, the money channels are blocked, and even calls don’t go through. My child just said, ‘Baba, please get us out of here.’ How do I answer her?”
Another parent added: “We trust our government’s capability. They rescued students from Ukraine before. But asking our children to manage their evacuation alone is unrealistic. They have no money, no flights, and no communication network.”
The Indian Embassy in Tehran issued an advisory on January 14 urging all Indian nationals — including students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists — to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights, citing the “evolving situation” in the country.
“We are not blaming anyone,” said another parent.
“We know the government can act swiftly. But please, act before it’s too late. If even one student is harmed, who will take responsibility?”
Earlier updates circulated among parent networks confirmed students’ safety inside university hostels, but families say such reassurance has stopped since the weekend.
“The embassy says leave on your own, but how can they? It’s chaos there,” said a father from Pulwama, whose son studies in Shiraz.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has also appealed for government intervention.
“Nearly 2,000 Kashmiri students are enrolled across various Iranian provinces, including Tehran, Urumiyeh, Shiraz, Esfahan, and Mazandaran,” said JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami.
“Parents are breaking down during calls. We have requested round-the-clock communication lines between the embassy and students, along with an emergency evacuation plan if things deteriorate further.”
Parents said that statements alone are insufficient.
“We don’t need just statements; we need action,” said one parent.
“Our children are stuck thousands of kilometres away with no way to reach us. We appeal to the Prime Minister, Jaishankar sahib, please, bring them home. That’s all we ask.”