Srinagar- Relief mixed with anger marked the return of over three dozen Kashmiri students from Iran on Saturday, as families expressed gratitude for their safe arrival, while students spoke of the heavy financial burden they bore and frustration over what they described as exaggerated media portrayals of their situation.
Several returning students said that there was no immediate danger in the areas where they were studying. “We returned on our own. There is no harsh situation as shown on television. The sensational coverage only spreads panic,” one of the students said.
The students said they were compelled to book tickets at short notice, incurring substantial expenses, as no evacuation had been announced. Many said their decision to return was driven by family anxiety fuelled by media reports rather than any direct threat on the ground.
National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that all students travelled at their own expense and that a significant number of pilgrims also returned on the same flights.
“The students have reached India safely and have since returned to their native places. Many more students are expected to arrive from today onwards, as they have booked commercial flights,” Khuehami said.
He added that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains in direct contact with the students and will inform them through official channels if evacuation becomes necessary. “At present, all students who remain in Iran are safe, secure, and stable, and the situation on the ground is gradually stabilising,” he said.
Khuehami further said that the Association is in constant coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy, which are closely engaging with Iranian authorities to monitor developments.
Family members, he said, expressed relief and appreciation to officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy upon the students’ arrival. “Families conveyed their trust in the Government of India and thanked the authorities for the timely support extended during a period of uncertainty,” he said.
The Association welcomed the safe return of the students, saying it has brought much-needed relief to anxious families across Jammu and Kashmir, while noting that many more students studying in different parts of Iran are expected to return in the coming days through commercial flights. (KNO)
