J-K CM Abdullah speaks to Jaishankar as hundreds of Kashmiri students await evacuation
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about the safety of Indians stranded in Iran. Abdullah reported that EAM shared the plans the ministry was working on.
S Jaishankar and Omar Abdullah.
As protests spread to new parts of Iran and amid rising tensions, families of Kashmiri students stranded in the Islamic Republic are gripped with fear and anxiety. According to reports, hundreds of students, mostly medical students, were stranded in the country due to the unrest. They also face shortages of basic supplies and patchy communication services. When they returned home, their parents were upset and appealed to the authorities to take them back as soon as possible.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about the safety of Indians stranded in Iran. Abdullah reported that EAM shared the plans the ministry was working on. In a post on “I am grateful for his assurance that all steps will be taken to protect the interests and lives of students and others from J&K currently in Iran,” he added.
Earlier in the day, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had urged the Minister of External Affairs (MEA) and Jaishankar to ensure the safe return of Indian students from Iran who are stranded in a difficult situation amid the turmoil. In a post published on X, Mufti expressed concern over the safety of Indian students stranded in Iran. In his post, the former prime minister wrote, “Thousands of students from across the country, including Kashmir, are stranded in Iran amid the current volatile situation. This has triggered deep fear and anxiety in grieving parents who are desperately worried about the safety of their children. Urge @DrSJaishankar and @MEAIndia to intervene immediately and ensure their safe return.”
Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran, advised Indian citizens in Iran to leave the country at the earliest. “In continuation of the advisory issued by the Government of India on January 5, 2025, and considering the evolving situation in Iran, Indian citizens (students, pilgrims, businessmen and tourists) currently in Iran are advised to leave Iran by available means of transportation, including commercial flights,” the statement said. It was said. The warning emphasized that all Indian citizens should exercise caution and “avoid areas of protest or demonstration, stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments.”
(With inputs from news agency ANI).
