Families of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran have appealed to the Indian government for their immediate evacuation, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel.

Around 1,300 to 1,500 students from Kashmir, enrolled mostly in medical programmes, are currently based in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The worsening regional conflict has heightened anxiety among the students and their families, with several students posting video appeals on social media.

“An attack took place near the boys’ hostel at Tehran University, and some students were injured,” a student said in a video message. “I request both LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to evacuate us as soon as possible.”

Last week, families of several students staged a protest in Srinagar’s Press Colony, demanding swift action. “Some students have been moved to safer locations, but many are still in conflict zones. Communication is patchy, and we are struggling to contact our children,” said Mohammad Ayoub, whose niece is studying at a medical university in Tehran. He added that her apartment has been without power and water.

Iran–Kashmir ties

Iran has become a preferred destination for Kashmiri students, especially for medical and religious education, due to relatively low tuition costs and historical cultural ties.

“An MBBS degree in Iran costs around ₹30-35 lakh, about one-third of what it costs in India,” said a student.

Many Shia students from Kashmir also travel to cities like Tehran, Qom, Isfahan and Shiraz for theological studies.

Cultural and spiritual ties between the two regions date back centuries. Poets and Sufi saints from Iran — particularly from the Khorasan region — began travelling to Kashmir in the 13th and 14th centuries, introducing Persian language, literature, architecture, and Sufi philosophy. Their influence continues to shape Kashmir’s religious and cultural landscape.

Calls for evacuation

On June 15, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding the safety of Kashmiri students. “The Minister assured me the MEA is in touch with its Iranian counterparts and will take all necessary steps to safeguard Indian students,” Abdullah posted on X.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, also urged the Indian government to act. “Deeply disturbing reports have emerged of a hostel housing Kashmiri students being hit by an Israeli airstrike. Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported,” he said. “More than 1,300 Kashmiri students study in Iran. Their families are in deep anguish.”

Shia leader and MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi raised similar concerns, stating that the Hujat Dost Ali hostel in Tehran, where many Kashmiri students reside, was struck. “I’ve written to the External Affairs Minister, urging relocation within Iran or evacuation once airspace permits,” he posted on X.

Published on June 17, 2025