SRINAGAR: In response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has begun relocating Indian students — a large number of them from Jammu and Kashmir — to safer areas across the country. As of Monday, 440 students, mostly from Tehran’s leading medical colleges including Shaheed Beheshti Medical University, were shifted to the city of Qom, located 150 kilometres south of the capital. Another group of over 200 students, primarily from Urmia, has been moved to the Armenian border, where they have been asked to remain on standby for a week. Students in quieter cities such as Kerman have been advised to stay indoors and remain in contact with local embassy representatives.
This development comes amid mounting public pressure in Kashmir, where families of nearly 2,000 students enrolled in Iran’s medical and professional institutions have been making urgent appeals to the Union Government to ensure their children’s safety. The conflict, now in its fourth day, has seen waves of airstrikes and retaliatory attacks, with Tehran and its surrounding areas bearing the brunt of Israeli firepower.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, anxious parents staged a peaceful sit-in protest at Cariappa Park, holding placards that read “Bring Them Home” and “Save Our Children.” Emotions ran high as some wept openly, clutching photographs of their children studying in Iran. The protestors handed over a memorandum to the local administration addressed to the Ministry of External Affairs, demanding swift evacuation.
“My daughter is in Tehran and says they hear sirens and explosions daily. She is terrified. They live near strategic sites. The government must act now,” said Nisar Ahmad, a protesting father from Srinagar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed that he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “The Hon’ble Minister assured me the MEA is in close contact with its counterparts in Iran and will take all necessary steps to safeguard Indian students,” Abdullah posted on X.
Political leaders across the spectrum have echoed similar sentiments. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone, and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have all urged New Delhi to expedite student evacuations. “More than 1,300 Kashmiri students are in Iran, and their families are consumed by fear. We appeal to the Government of India to bring them back safely,” said Mirwaiz in a late-night statement.
Students in Tehran — a prime target of Israeli strikes — have spoken of growing panic and limited communication. “Our university cancelled exams and shut down until October,” said Faizan Ali, a first-year student from Srinagar currently studying in Kerman. “We’re told to stay ready. We hope we’ll be allowed to leave by tomorrow.”
Parents have cited both affordability and cultural familiarity as reasons for choosing Iran over countries like Russia, China or Bangladesh for their children’s education. “My son is in Tehran. It’s culturally close to home, but right now, we are worried sick,” said Imtiyaz Khan. “The government must get them out. We can’t sleep.”
Iran, often called Iran-e-Sagheer or “Little Iran” in Kashmir, has seen a steady influx of students from the Valley over the past decade, especially for medical studies. Estimates suggest about 5,000 Kashmiris study abroad — 80 per cent of them in Bangladesh and Iran. The relatively low tuition fee, moderate climate, and Shia-majority culture have made it a popular destination for students from both Shia and Sunni communities.
With Operation Rising Lion continuing to target Iranian military and nuclear sites, the situation remains precarious. Israel’s strikes have reportedly killed senior commanders and scientists, prompting Iran’s ballistic missile response. As the cycle of retaliation intensifies, families in the Valley wait — eyes on the news, ears to embassy helplines, and hearts heavy with worry.
“We appeal to Prime Minister Modi and the External Affairs Minister to act quickly,” said Maqsood Ahmad, whose daughter is a second-year MBBS student in Shiraz. “We’ve done our part as parents. Now the government must do theirs.”
