Escalating Tensions in West Asia Spark Fear Among Kashmiri Students in Iran

Srinagar, As tensions escalate in West Asia, a travel advisory issued by New Delhi for Indian nationals to avoid Iran and Israel has heightened anxieties among hundreds of Kashmiri students currently enrolled in Iranian universities.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the advisory has left these students in a state of uncertainty, with some considering evacuation due to safety concerns. One student from Imam Khomeini University in Qazvin shared her fears of an impending war between Middle Eastern rivals, noting her roommate’s decision to relocate to Lebanon, which has further fueled anxieties among their peers.

These students, already feeling vulnerable far from home, face dilemmas about whether to stay in Iran or attempt to return to India. The emotional toll is palpable, with families back home deeply worried about their well-being. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs required those choosing to travel to Iran despite the advisory to sign a document acknowledging they were doing so at their own risk, adding to the stress and uncertainty.

Parents, like Shakil Ahmad, whose daughter studies in Iran, recall the hardships faced by Kashmiri students in Ukraine during the onset of war there, fearing a similar situation could unfold if conflict escalates and travel becomes restricted. However, Ahmad also expressed confidence in Iran’s ability to manage crises, highlighting a contrasting sense of stability within the country despite the geopolitical tensions surrounding it.