Urgent Call for Evacuation of Kashmiri Students from Iran Amidst Unrest

In light of the turmoil in Iran, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), also known as Engineer Rashid, has reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. He has urged for immediate action to ensure the safety and evacuation of Kashmiri students from the Islamic Republic. Previously, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a warning advising Indian citizens to avoid travel to Iran until further notice and urged those already in the country to leave via available commercial flights.

On Friday, party spokesperson Inam Un Nabi reported that Rashid, who has been incarcerated in Tihar Jail since 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on charges of alleged terrorist financing, expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of students in his letter. He has called for their immediate evacuation.

Rashid's letter highlights the plight of hundreds of Kashmiri citizens, primarily students, trapped in various regions of Iran where the situation has deteriorated significantly, with no clear end to the uncertainty in sight. He further articulated the anguish of the students' families, stating that relatives are deeply worried about the fate and safety of their loved ones. He emphasized that these concerns are valid, the threat appears real, and that only government intervention can provide hope for these families. The letter concludes with a plea to consider this correspondence as an 'SOS' appeal from the stranded Kashmiris, urging for their safety and evacuation before it is too late.