JKSA Sounds Alarm, Seeks Urgent Rescue for Kashmiri Students
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Jan 12: Fear and anxiety have gripped households across the Kashmir Valley as hundreds of parents have lost contact with their children studying in Iran, following the escalation of disturbances in the country. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has now sought urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging the Government of India to take immediate steps to safeguard Indian students and, if necessary, initiate their evacuation.
In a strongly worded appeal, JKSA highlighted the growing sense of panic among families whose sons and daughters are pursuing medical and other professional courses in Iran. The Association said parents are going through “extreme mental trauma” as they have been unable to communicate with their children for the last four days, with phone calls failing, messaging apps not working, and social media platforms going silent — the only lifelines many families rely on for reassurance.
JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the situation is particularly alarming because a majority of Indian students in Iran belong to Jammu and Kashmir, where Iran has long been a preferred destination for MBBS and other medical courses due to its affordable fee structure, quality education, and historical people-to-people ties between the two countries.
“Hundreds of Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, are currently studying in Iranian universities. Parents are calling us in tears because they have not heard a single word from their children for days,” Khuehami said. “The uncertainty is terrifying. Families do not know whether their children are safe, whether they have food, shelter, or access to medical help.”
According to JKSA, nearly 2,000 Kashmiri students are enrolled in medical universities across various provinces of Iran, and most of them depend entirely on hostels, university facilities, public transport, and local civic services. With unrest affecting daily life, these students now find themselves in a highly vulnerable situation, facing restricted movement, disrupted services, and growing insecurity.
Khuehami said JKSA has been receiving a continuous stream of distress calls from both students and parents. “We are being told about internet shutdowns, limited mobility, lack of official safety advisories, and no visible emergency or evacuation arrangements. Many students feel trapped and unsafe,” he said.
The Association has therefore urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to immediately activate a 24×7 communication and support mechanism for Indian students in Iran. This includes setting up dedicated emergency helplines, ensuring regular outreach by officials of the Indian Embassy in Tehran, and issuing clear, timely advisories to keep students informed and reassured.
More importantly, JKSA has demanded that the Government of India prepare a comprehensive evacuation and contingency plan. Khuehhami warned that if the security situation worsens or critical infrastructure collapses, any delay could prove disastrous. “A timely evacuation could save lives. The government must be fully prepared to bring our students home if the situation deteriorates further,” he said.
JKSA also appealed to the MEA to engage closely with Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of Indian nationals, especially Kashmiri students who are currently stranded in different parts of the country.
“The lives of our students cannot be left to uncertainty. The Government of India must act swiftly and decisively to protect them,” Khuehami said, urging urgent and coordinated action before the situation spirals further out of control.
