India starts process of evacuating citizens from Iran
New Delhi started working on the plan to evacuate India's citizens in Iran after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, on Monday.
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Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Iran opens airspace for international transits after ceasefire with Israel; domestic flights remain partly suspended
Iran has expanded access to its airspace for international overflights following a ceasefire with Israel, though flight restrictions remain in place across much of the country, an official said on Saturday. "In addition to the eastern half of the country's airspace being available for domestic, international and overflight operations, the airspace over the central and western parts of the country has now also been opened only for international overflights," Majid Akhavan, spokesman for the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, said in a statement carried by the IRNA state news agency, according to an AFP report. Flights to and from airports in the north, south and west of the country, including Tehran's Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini international airports, remained suspended, according to Akhavan. The move comes after Iran reopened its eastern airspace on Wednesday, following a ceasefire that ended 12 days of fighting with Israel. Iran had closed its skies entirely on June 13 after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes, prompting Iranian missile retaliation. Airports now operating include Mashhad in eastern Iran – which Israel claimed to have targeted during the conflict – as well as Chabahar in the southeast. Flights in other regions remain suspended until further notice, the AFP report added. India has so far evacuated more than 4,400 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel in 19 special flights under Operation Sindhu launched on June 18 to bring home its citizens amid an ongoing conflict between the two countries, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The evacuated Indian nationals included "more than 1,500 women and 500 children", the MEA said in a statement on Friday. "The government of India is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, Operation Sindhu is another demonstration of this commitment," it said. "We thank the governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Armenia and Turkmenistan for their support during Operation Sindhu. Indian Missions will stay engaged with host governments and the Indian community in Iran, Israel and the wider West Asia region," the MEA added. A batch of 173 Indians evacuated from Iran reached Delhi late on Thursday night in a flight from Armenian capital Yerevan, the MEA had said in a post on X. Responding to queries on Operation Sindhu at his weekly media briefing a day before, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was assessing the situation on the ground and a decision on the future course of action would be taken based on it. More than 3,400 Indian nationals have so far been evacuated in 14 flights from Iran since the start of Operation Sindhu, according to data shared by Jaiswal during the briefing.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Jammu and Kashmir Students Association writes to PM Modi and EAM S Jaishankar, expresses gratitude for safe evacuation from Iran
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Students Association JKSA )wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar , on Saturday, expressing gratitude for the evacuation of 1,300 Kashmiri students from conflict-hit Iran JKSA wrote, "We, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, on behalf of thousands of relieved and grateful families across the Kashmir Valley, extend our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to you and your government for the swift, decisive, and compassionate evacuation of over 1,300 Kashmiri students and other families from the Islamic Republic of Iran, amid the rapidly escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel.""This intervention brought immense relief, joy, and emotional solace to the families who had spent countless sleepless nights, consumed by fear and uncertainty regarding the safety of their children. The students were terrified, traumatised, and in extremely vulnerable positions. Their families were in deep distress, pleading for help and the safe return of their wards. These students, trapped in cities like Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Qom, Gilan, Tabriz, Yazd, and Ahvaz, endured severe psychological distress amid active conflict zones. The safe return of these students to their homeland, and into the arms of their anxious and long-waiting families especially in Jammu and Kashmir brought an end to days of fear and uncertainty, offering much-needed emotional peace and relief," the letter Students Association said that the attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences left two Kashmiri students injured. Still, students were immediately relocated after the matter was brought to the attention of the MEA."Sir, your government's timely intervention came at a moment when hope was beginning to fade. While citizens of other nations were left to face the risks on their own, without support or assistance, Indian students remained under constant threat. The attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which left two Kashmiri students injured, highlighted the grave danger they were facing. After we raised the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs , the students were immediately relocated to safer locations and provided due care. Following your personal and governmental intervention, they were finally evacuated on 19 special flights under Operation Ganga and returned safely to their respective native places in Kashmir. Your response to our urgent appeals ensured that their suffering did not go unheard," the Association gratitude, the Students Association added, "We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your prompt and effective intervention in facilitating the safe evacuation of our students. The timely and coordinated efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), under your leadership and guidance, ensured that all 1,300 Kashmiri students and other families were safely brought back to India and reunited with their families.""The prompt assistance provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brought tremendous relief to the frightened and anxious families across the Valley. The care and priority given to the safety of Kashmiri students from the initial response to the final leg of their journey was nothing short of exemplary. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association had written to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, who took up the matter immediately from day one, as soon as the escalation began. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy remained in constant touch with us from the very first day the conflict and escalation began between Iran and Israel. Your swift response and prioritisation of the students' safety led to their successful and timely evacuation," the letter students thanked the Indian Embassy in Iran for ground-level coordination and communication."We are also deeply thankful for the crucial role played by the Indian Embassy in Iran as well. Their on-ground coordination, efficient handling of documentation, and sensitive communication with the students and their institutions were pivotal in ensuring their safety. The coordinated travel arrangements to border crossings, relocations to safer zones like Mashad, Qom, Ramsar, and Armenia, and final airlifts to India via Mashad and Yerevan were masterfully executed," the students added that the students who had lost their passports or faced documentation issues were also assisted."Students who had lost their passports or faced documentation issues were also assisted swiftly, thanks to your direct intervention. The MEA's sensitive and efficient handling of such challenges ensured no student was left behind," the letter further the communication efforts, the student body added, "The setting up of emergency helplines, creation of WhatsApp and Telegram-based crisis communication channels, and direct embassy-student coordination were all hallmarks of a humane, efficient, and responsive evacuation process. These measures must be acknowledged as a benchmark in citizen protection and evacuation diplomacy.""Sir, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association recognises that this evacuation was more than a logistical exercise; it was a deeply humanitarian act rooted in national duty and compassion. Your leadership sent a clear message to every Kashmiri household that; their children matter, their lives are valued, and the Indian government stands resolutely by its citizens, regardless of geography or adversity," the students wrote."This act of care and timely intervention has not only saved lives but has renewed faith in the protective embrace of the Indian government especially among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom have long yearned for such responsive and inclusive governance," the letter Association also noted the Centre's efforts in evacuating during conflicts across the and Kashmir Students Association wrote, "This is not the first instance of the Government of India standing firmly for its citizens. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Bangladesh reservation crisis, the Afghanistan-U.S. war, and the Syrian unrest, your government's efforts ensured the safety and return of thousands of Indian citizens, many of them from Jammu and Kashmir.""Such actions reflect the Government of India's, the Ministry of External Affairs', and the Indian Embassy's consistent dedication to ensuring the safety, dignity, and even religious aspirations of Indian citizens, particularly those from Jammu and Kashmir. The PMO and MEA's commitment has been a beacon of hope and reassurance to distressed families in the most turbulent times," the letter on Wednesday night, a special flight carrying 272 Indian nationals and three Nepalese citizens stranded in conflict-hit Iran's Mashhad landed safely in New Delhi, taking the total number of people evacuated under Operation Sindhu to 3,426. Evacuees thanked the Iranian and Indian governments for evacuating them from conflict-hit Iran under Operation Sindhu.
India Gazette
6 hours ago
- India Gazette
JKSA writes to PM Modi and EAM S Jaishankar, expresses gratitude for safe evacuation from Iran
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA)wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Saturday, expressing gratitude for the evacuation of 1,300 Kashmiri students from conflict-hit Iran. JKSA wrote, 'We, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, on behalf of thousands of relieved and grateful families across the Kashmir Valley, extend our deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to you and your government for the swift, decisive, and compassionate evacuation of over 1,300 Kashmiri students and other families from the Islamic Republic of Iran, amid the rapidly escalating hostilities between Iran and Israel.' 'This intervention brought immense relief, joy, and emotional solace to the families who had spent countless sleepless nights, consumed by fear and uncertainty regarding the safety of their children. The students were terrified, traumatised, and in extremely vulnerable positions. Their families were in deep distress, pleading for help and the safe return of their wards. These students, trapped in cities like Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Qom, Gilan, Tabriz, Yazd, and Ahvaz, endured severe psychological distress amid active conflict zones. The safe return of these students to their homeland, and into the arms of their anxious and long-waiting families especially in Jammu and Kashmir brought an end to days of fear and uncertainty, offering much-needed emotional peace and relief,' the letter read. The Students Association said that the attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences left two Kashmiri students injured. Still, students were immediately relocated after the matter was brought to the attention of the MEA. 'Sir, your government's timely intervention came at a moment when hope was beginning to fade. While citizens of other nations were left to face the risks on their own, without support or assistance, Indian students remained under constant threat. The attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which left two Kashmiri students injured, highlighted the grave danger they were facing. After we raised the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs, the students were immediately relocated to safer locations and provided due care. Following your personal and governmental intervention, they were finally evacuated on 19 special flights under Operation Ganga and returned safely to their respective native places in Kashmir. Your response to our urgent appeals ensured that their suffering did not go unheard,' the Association wrote. Expressing gratitude, the Students Association added, 'We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your prompt and effective intervention in facilitating the safe evacuation of our students. The timely and coordinated efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), under your leadership and guidance, ensured that all 1,300 Kashmiri students and other families were safely brought back to India and reunited with their families.' 'The prompt assistance provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brought tremendous relief to the frightened and anxious families across the Valley. The care and priority given to the safety of Kashmiri students from the initial response to the final leg of their journey was nothing short of exemplary. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association had written to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, who took up the matter immediately from day one, as soon as the escalation began. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy remained in constant touch with us from the very first day the conflict and escalation began between Iran and Israel. Your swift response and prioritisation of the students' safety led to their successful and timely evacuation,' the letter read. The students thanked the Indian Embassy in Iran for ground-level coordination and communication. 'We are also deeply thankful for the crucial role played by the Indian Embassy in Iran as well. Their on-ground coordination, efficient handling of documentation, and sensitive communication with the students and their institutions were pivotal in ensuring their safety. The coordinated travel arrangements to border crossings, relocations to safer zones like Mashad, Qom, Ramsar, and Armenia, and final airlifts to India via Mashad and Yerevan were masterfully executed,' the students wrote. They added that the students who had lost their passports or faced documentation issues were also assisted. 'Students who had lost their passports or faced documentation issues were also assisted swiftly, thanks to your direct intervention. The MEA's sensitive and efficient handling of such challenges ensured no student was left behind,' the letter further read. Lauding the communication efforts, the student body added, 'The setting up of emergency helplines, creation of WhatsApp and Telegram-based crisis communication channels, and direct embassy-student coordination were all hallmarks of a humane, efficient, and responsive evacuation process. These measures must be acknowledged as a benchmark in citizen protection and evacuation diplomacy.' 'Sir, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association recognises that this evacuation was more than a logistical exercise; it was a deeply humanitarian act rooted in national duty and compassion. Your leadership sent a clear message to every Kashmiri household that; their children matter, their lives are valued, and the Indian government stands resolutely by its citizens, regardless of geography or adversity,' the students wrote. 'This act of care and timely intervention has not only saved lives but has renewed faith in the protective embrace of the Indian government especially among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom have long yearned for such responsive and inclusive governance,' the letter added. The Association also noted the Centre's efforts in evacuating during conflicts across the globe. Jammu and Kashmir Students Association wrote, 'This is not the first instance of the Government of India standing firmly for its citizens. During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Bangladesh reservation crisis, the Afghanistan-U.S. war, and the Syrian unrest, your government's efforts ensured the safety and return of thousands of Indian citizens, many of them from Jammu and Kashmir.' 'Such actions reflect the Government of India's, the Ministry of External Affairs', and the Indian Embassy's consistent dedication to ensuring the safety, dignity, and even religious aspirations of Indian citizens, particularly those from Jammu and Kashmir. The PMO and MEA's commitment has been a beacon of hope and reassurance to distressed families in the most turbulent times,' the letter read. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, a special flight carrying 272 Indian nationals and three Nepalese citizens stranded in conflict-hit Iran's Mashhad landed safely in New Delhi, taking the total number of people evacuated under Operation Sindhu to 3,426. Evacuees thanked the Iranian and Indian governments for evacuating them from conflict-hit Iran under Operation Sindhu. (ANI)
