Relief mixed with anger marked the return of more than three dozen Kashmiri students from Iran on Saturday, as families welcomed them home safely while students spoke openly about the financial burden they faced and their frustration over how the situation was portrayed in the media.
Several returning students told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there was no immediate danger in the areas where they were studying. They said daily life remained largely normal and that they decided to return on their own. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“There was no harsh situation as shown on television. The media only showed panic and exaggerated everything,” some students said, adding that they never personally witnessed unrest where they lived or studied.
Meanwhile, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), Nasir Khuehami, said all students travelled back at their own expense. He added that a significant number of pilgrims also returned on the same flights.
“The students have reached India safely and have returned to their native places. Many more students are expected to arrive from today onwards, as they have booked commercial flights,” Khuehami said.
He clarified that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains in direct contact with students in Iran. “If evacuation becomes necessary, students will be officially informed through proper channels,” he added.
Khuehami said JKSA is in constant coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy, which are closely working with Iranian authorities. He said all students who are still in Iran are safe, stable, and secure, and that the situation on the ground is gradually improving.
Family members of the returning students expressed relief and thanked the MEA and Indian Embassy officials for their support. “Families conveyed their trust in the Government of India and appreciated the timely efforts taken to ensure the safety of their children during a difficult time,” Khuehami said.
The Students Association welcomed the safe return of the students, saying it brought much-needed relief to anxious families across Jammu and Kashmir. However, many families and students said the high personal cost of travel and misleading media coverage overshadowed what should have been a happy homecoming.
More students studying in different parts of Iran are expected to return in the coming days through commercial flights, officials said.
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