Kashmiri Parents Appeal to Centre to Evacuate Children from Unrest-Hit Iran

SRINAGAR: Alarmed by the escalating unrest in Iran, parents from Jammu and Kashmir have urgently petitioned the Indian government to facilitate the safe return of their children studying there. They have written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the J&K administration, seeking immediate evacuation.

Key Takeaways

• Kashmiri parents have formally requested the Centre’s intervention to bring students back from Iran.
• Students are reported to be living in fear, unable to focus on studies due to the volatile situation.
• The J&K administration is coordinating with the MEA and monitoring developments.
• Hundreds of Kashmiri students, many in seminaries, are currently in Iranian cities.

Fear and Anxiety Among Families

Parents express deep concern for their children’s safety amid recent protests and violence. They state the students are in constant fear, which is severely impacting their academic focus and well-being.

“We are extremely worried about our children. The situation in Iran is very tense and we want them to come back home as soon as possible,” said a Srinagar parent whose son is in Tehran.

Call for Special Evacuation Flights

Drawing parallels to the pandemic repatriation efforts, the families have urged the MEA to arrange special flights for Indian students stranded in Iran.

“We urge the government to take immediate steps to bring back our children. They are stranded in a foreign country and we are helpless here,” appealed another parent.

Official Response and Scale of Concern

The J&K administration has acknowledged the appeals and is liaising with the central government. An official confirmed that parental concerns have been forwarded to the MEA, expressing hope for appropriate action.

The panic is widespread, with hundreds of Kashmiri students, particularly those in religious seminaries across Iranian cities, caught in the turmoil, leaving families in India distressed.