Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 17: Far from home and caught in a maze of uncertainty, around 180 Kashmiri and Indian students studying in Iran are stranded near the Azerbaijan border, facing fear, mounting financial losses and an unclear path back as evacuation efforts remain inconsistent on the ground.
The students, mostly pursuing medical and professional courses, were first relocated from Tehran to Qom amid rising tensions in Iran. Initially offered routes through Armenia and later Azerbaijan, they were asked to book tickets in advance and share PNR details. Limited border clearances and changing instructions have since left them stranded near Astara, waiting anxiously to return home.
One of the students described a distressing journey over the past nearly three weeks, marked by repeated relocations, changing travel plans and prolonged waiting at the Astara border crossing.
“We left our universities hoping we would be evacuated safely, but we have ended up managing everything on our own,” a student said.
According to her, they were initially in Tehran when tensions escalated, prompting them to seek evacuation. “We were later moved to Qom, considered relatively safer at the time, where we stayed for around 10–12 days amid uncertainty,” she said.
“Even there, we were told repeatedly that evacuation was not confirmed. Later, we were given options to leave through Armenia or Azerbaijan, but we had to arrange everything ourselves,” the student said.
The student said they were advised to book flight tickets in advance and share their travel details before being moved further.
“To secure our exit, we booked tickets ranging from rupees 50,000 to over rupees 1 lakh from Azerbaijan to New Delhi. For many of us, this amount is more than our families’ monthly income,” another student said.
However, upon reaching the Astara border near Azerbaijan, the situation became more uncertain. Students said crossing requires official clearance or ‘codes’, which are being issued in very limited numbers.
“Initially, we were told dozens would be allowed daily, but the numbers kept decreasing. Now, only a handful are being allowed, and many are still waiting despite having confirmed tickets,” the student said.
Notably, the delays have resulted in several students missing their flights, many of which were non-refundable or difficult to reschedule.
“We were first told to book tickets to be moved forward. Now we are being asked to cancel or reschedule them, with no clarity on refunds. We don’t know how much more loss we can bear,” she added.
Students also described the situation at the border as unpredictable, with names being cleared without a clear sequence, leaving others waiting anxiously.
“Every day we gather, hoping our turn will come. It feels uncertain and stressful because we don’t know who will be allowed next,” the student said.
Apart from financial losses, students spoke about emotional strain and pressure from families back home.
“Our parents are worried. Some of us used all available savings for tickets. We do not know what to tell them when flights are missed, and plans keep changing,” another student said.
Students said they remain in contact with associations and officials, but pointed to a lack of consistent communication regarding routes, permissions and timelines.
The situation involves multiple stages of coordination, including movement within Iran and permissions at the Azerbaijan border, which students believe has contributed to delays and confusion.
The stranded group has appealed for smoother border clearances, clearer communication and support in managing financial losses caused by missed or cancelled travel plans.
Meanwhile, the Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has sought the urgent intervention of External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, requesting immediate steps to facilitate safe passage for the stranded students and ensure their timely return.
The Association, in a statement, highlighted growing distress among students and their families, stressing the need for coordinated diplomatic and logistical support.
National Convener of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said the students had travelled from different parts of Iran and reached the Azerbaijan border in the hope of crossing over for their onward journey to India. “However, Azerbaijani authorities have reportedly closed the border and are not allowing them to enter the country or granting transit permits, leaving hundreds of Indian students, of which the majority are from Kashmir, stranded in extremely distressing conditions.”
Khuehami said that students were earlier instructed to book their flight tickets in advance and submit their PNR details, after which they would be escorted to the border. They were also informed that travel permissions would be coordinated in batches, enabling them to cross the border and board their onward flights. Following these instructions, many students booked tickets for March 18, 19, and 21. (KNO)
