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India.com
20-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Operation Sindhu: 2 Flights To Touch Down In Delhi Tonight With Evacuees Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
New Delhi: The Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. As part of this operation, two evacuation flights are expected to land in Delhi tonight. According to a report by news agency ANI, the first flight, arriving from Mashhad, is scheduled to touch down around 11:30 PM, while the second flight, coming from Ashgabat, is expected to arrive around 3 AM. Iran has granted India exclusive airspace access to facilitate the safe passage of its nationals. Over 4,000 Indian nationals reside in Iran, with roughly half being students. Many students are enrolled in universities in northern regions, where military activity has intensified. To ensure their safety, the Indian Embassy in Tehran is coordinating closely with the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Earlier this week, 110 students were relocated from northern Iran to Yerevan, Armenia, by road, and then flew to New Delhi. Most of these students were from Jammu and Kashmir, specifically from Urmia Medical University. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah provided an update on the evacuation efforts, stating that over 300 to 400 students are expected to reach safer zones today. From there, they will be repatriated to India via Armenia. Abdullah emphasized the challenges of evacuating students overnight due to the closure of airports and ports, saying, "We cannot evacuate them overnight because no airports are open, no ports are operational. We are first bringing them by road to cities where there is no bombing, and from there, efforts are being made to bring them back to India via Armenia. Today, we expect around 300 to 400 more students to arrive, most of whom are from Jammu and Kashmir. We will bring them back home safely, and there is a sense of hope all around." Abdullah also called for de-escalation through dialogue, remarking, "The India-Pakistan issue is a separate matter, and the Israel-Iran issue is different. In any case, this bombing should never have started. Earlier, when the head of U.S. intelligence was asked whether Iran had nuclear weapons, he said he didn't think they would be able to make one anytime soon. But within a few months, Israel launched attacks on Iran. These attacks must stop, and the issues should be resolved through dialogue." He expressed concerns over India-U.S. relations, noting, "We can't dictate to the US President whom he should invite for dinner. We used to think the US President was our close friend, and he would respect that, but the US does what benefits it..." Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed the first group of 110 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran, acknowledging the efforts of the Indian government in ensuring their safe return.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How a tiny South Caucasus country is becoming India's strategic answer to Turkey-Pakistan ties
India has evacuated 110 students studying at Iran's Urmia Medical University through Armenia , as regional tensions in West Asia rise. The operation highlights New Delhi's growing logistical presence in the South Caucasus and its evolving partnership with Armenia, a country increasingly aligned with India on regional security concerns. The development comes amid geopolitical shifts in the region. India's closer ties with Armenia are shaped by mutual interests in countering the influence of Turkey and Pakistan, both of which have backed Azerbaijan in recent regional conflicts. India, Armenia and the Pakistan-Turkey equation Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had, in 2020, accused Pakistani special forces of aiding Azerbaijani troops. Indian officials have also stated that Pakistan used Turkish drones to target India during Operation Sindoor. Turkey's opposition to India stems from its continued support for Pakistan's position on Kashmir. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has regularly raised Kashmir at international forums, including the United Nations. Ankara's increasing defence and diplomatic cooperation with Islamabad has added to the friction. Live Events India has viewed these developments as interference in its internal affairs. In response, India has chosen to deepen engagement with Armenia, not merely as a reaction to the trilateral bloc of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan, but as part of a broader regional strategy. India-Armenia cooperation based on long-term interests Indian officials and analysts say that the ties with Armenia are driven by strategic, defence, and diplomatic considerations. While Azerbaijan and Turkey have echoed Pakistan's views on Kashmir, India's ties with Yerevan extend beyond short-term alignment. India and Armenia have maintained stable diplomatic relations since 1991. Armenia has emerged as a growing customer of Indian defence systems, with ties being bolstered by shared historical links and positive diplomatic engagement. India emerges as top defence supplier to Armenia India has recently overtaken Russia as Armenia's largest defence supplier. This follows a shift caused by Russia's military engagement in Ukraine, which disrupted its arms export capacity. Armenia's dependence on Indian systems marks a key shift in the military balance in the region. Major defence supplies from India to Armenia India's defence exports to Armenia now include a wide range of advanced systems: Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher Systems : Four batteries delivered for long-range rapid fire operations. ATAGS Howitzers : 90 units of the long-range, precision artillery systems supplied. Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (4 units): For detecting and tracking incoming enemy fire. Akash Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (4 units): Medium-range air defence system used during Operation Sindoor. Ashwin Advanced Air Defence Interceptors (15 units): Acquired in 2023 for aerial threat interception. TC-20 (MaRG 155mm) Self-Propelled Howitzers (72 units): Delivered by Kalyani Strategic Systems. Spartan-S thermal sights: From Tonbo Imaging , these aid night-time military operations. Anti-drone systems developed by India's Zen Technologies have also reportedly been delivered, though the company has not confirmed the deal. India fills vacuum left by Russia India's entry as Armenia's principal arms supplier coincides with Russia's reduced ability to meet defence demands due to its focus on the war in Ukraine. This change has allowed India to step in and expand its footprint in the strategically located Caucasus region. Experts view this shift as significant for India's ambitions to grow as a defence exporter while also asserting influence in regions bridging Europe and Asia. A partnership with long-term impact India's growing defence partnership with Armenia suggests a strategic realignment in the region. For India, it is an opportunity to emerge as a dependable defence supplier. For Armenia, it diversifies its defence sources and strengthens its military readiness. The full details of recent defence deals have not been publicly disclosed. However, the regular exchanges and volume of recent arms transfers indicate a growing strategic partnership with wider implications for regional geopolitics.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Iran Opens Airspace For India, 1st Batch Of Students To Reach Delhi Tonight
New Delhi: Iran has opened its otherwise closed airspace exclusively for Indian evacuation flights. At least 1,000 Indian students stranded in conflict-hit Iranian cities are expected to land in Delhi in the next two days as part of the government's emergency evacuation programme, Operation Sindhu. The first flight is due to land at 11:00 PM IST tonight. The second and third flights are scheduled for Saturday, one in the morning and another in the evening. The Iranian airspace remains closed to most international flights following ongoing missile exchanges and drone attacks involving Israeli and Iranian forces. India has been granted an exclusive corridor to carry out the evacuation of its students. India on Wednesday announced launching 'Operation Sindhu' to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran as the Persian Gulf nation's conflict with Israel showed no sign of letting up. Iranian embassy officials in Delhi said the Iranian foreign ministry was in close touch with the Indian mission in Tehran after some students were injured. "India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. More than 4,000 Indian nationals are living in Iran and half of them are students. According to official MEA briefings, 110 Indian students were evacuated from northern Iran earlier this week and transported to Yerevan, Armenia by road. The evacuation was carried out under close coordination between India's missions in Tehran and Yerevan. From Yerevan, they boarded a special flight at 14:55 hours on 18 June, landing in New Delhi in the early hours of 19 June. "The Indian government is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for facilitating the safe passage of Indian nationals through their territories," an MEA spokesperson said. These students were enrolled at Urmia Medical University in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, close to the border with Turkey, a region that has seen missile activity and troop movement in recent days. Most of the students are residents of Jammu and Kashmir, with the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association confirming that 90 of the 110 evacuees on the first flight are from the union territory. The latest conflict began when Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure. This prompted massive retaliatory strikes from Tehran, including missile salvos and drone attacks that have reportedly killed over 20 civilians in Israeli towns and injured several hundred. On Wednesday, Israeli jets carried out multiple strikes near Tehran, with eyewitnesses reporting evacuations in northern districts of the capital. By evening, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed to have targeted a nuclear facility, while Iranian state media reported launches of hypersonic missiles aimed at Israeli military installations.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Amid escalating conflict, India to extend Op Sindhu to Israel as well
Junior external affairs minister Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomes first group of Indian students evacuated from Iran as part of Op Sindhu Thursday NEW DELHI: As tensions escalated further between Israel and Iran, the Indian government said Thursday it had decided to evacuate from Israel those Indian nationals who wish to leave. Their travel from Israel will be facilitated through the land borders and thereafter by air to India, said the government. "In view of the above, the embassy of India in Tel Aviv would be making arrangements for the evacuation of Indians," said the govt in a statement, requesting Indian nationals to register themselves with the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv. India had on Wednesday launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. It had also asked Indian nationals to leave capital Tehran. With Israeli cities like Tel Aviv under attack from Iranian strikes, the govt felt the need to evacuate Indians from Israel too. There are 38,000 Indian nationals living in Israel currently. According to the MEA, these are mostly caregivers - employed by Israeli elders to take care of them - diamond traders, workers employed in construction and agriculture sectors, IT professionals, and students. "Govt of India accords the highest priority to safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. Govt will continue to monitor the situation closely. The Embassy remains continuously in touch with the community with a view to extending all feasible assistance," the govt statement read. Meanwhile, a special flight carrying 110 Indian students from Urmia Medical University in Iran arrived in Delhi Thursday from Yerevan. Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received the evacuees at IGI airport. He said govt has received evacuation requests from 350 Indians in Iran. "We, on our part, are making every effort to ensure the safe return of all Indian nationals from Iran. It is a major responsibility, and we are committed to fulfilling it. We have more planes on standby," Singh told mediapersons.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Even Animals Won't...': Evacuated From Iran, Students Slam Govt Over Bus Conditions, Omar Steps In
After being evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu, 110 Indian students from Urmia Medical University landed in Delhi early Thursday. While expressing deep gratitude to the Indian government for a smooth evacuation amid the Israel-Iran conflict, the students were dismayed by the 'deplorable' condition of buses arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir government to take them home. One student remarked the buses were 'unfit even for animals.' In response, J&K CM Omar Abdullah assured that his office has 'taken note' of the issue and ordered better transport via deluxe buses. Over 4,000 Indian nationals live in Iran, many of them students, and this group was among the first rescued via Armenia and Doha. The return journey was overshadowed by logistical lapses, raising questions over coordination post-evacuation. Watch the full story now.#operationsindhu #iranconflict #indiastudents #omarabdullah #jkstudents #evacuationupdate #kashmirnews #iranisraelwar #studentsafety #urmiastudents #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
