Srinagar, June 28 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar for the safe evacuation of more than 1,300 Kashmiri students from war-torn Iran.
In a letter addressed to the PM and EAM, the Association as per news agency JKNS praised the government’s “swift, coordinated and compassionate” intervention, calling the operation a “deeply humanitarian act rooted in national duty.” The rescued students were stranded in multiple conflict-hit Iranian cities including Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Qom, Gilan, Tabriz, Yazd and Ahvaz.
“Students were terrified, traumatized and vulnerable. This act of care has brought immense relief to anxious families across J&K and renewed their faith in the protective embrace of the Indian state,” said Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of JKSA, in the letter, as per news agency JKNS.
The Association said the evacuation came at a time when hope was fading, and the situation was worsening on the ground. The students, they said, endured days of fear and uncertainty in conflict zones, until relief came through India’s coordinated rescue effort.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Khuehami noted that an attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences had injured two Kashmiri students, prompting JKSA to launch an urgent appeal for evacuation. The students were then shifted to safer locations.
“While citizens of many nations were left to fend for themselves, the Indian government prioritized its students’ safety,” the Association said, acknowledging the crucial role played by the Ministry of External Affairs under PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar.
The Association also lauded the on-ground coordination of the Indian Embassy in Iran, the logistical efficiency at border crossings, and the timely airlifts from cities like Mashad, Qom, Ramsar and Yerevan. Helpline services, Telegram groups and direct communication between the Embassy and students were described as symbols of a “humane, responsive and efficient evacuation process.”
“This was not just a logistical exercise but a powerful humanitarian act. It rekindled trust among Kashmiris in the government’s responsiveness and inclusiveness,” Khuehami said.
The Association further stated that the rescue had deep emotional resonance among the Kashmiri community. “When bombs were falling, it was our embassy, our flag, our people who got us out,” the letter reads.
For many young Kashmiris who’ve grown up amid political turmoil and alienation, this gesture of national care came as an “unexpected and deeply emotional” moment, JKSA said.
Khuehami concluded that the government’s consistent efforts had not only ensured the safety of students but also reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian state towards the well-being, dignity, and aspirations of its people, particularly those from Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)
