JKSA Seeks External Affairs Minister’s Assistance for 200 Indian Students

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Tuesday sought the urgent intervention of External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to facilitate the safe evacuation of around 200 Indian students including Kashmiri stranded near the Azerbaijan–Iran border amid the ongoing escalation and war-like situation in the region.
National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that 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 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.
However, with the delay in granting travel permissions, many students who had already purchased tickets are now stranded near the border and facing uncertainty about whether they will be able to travel on time. The situation has caused significant anxiety among the students, especially considering the high cost of the tickets they had arranged.
He added that although the Armenia border had briefly opened earlier, enabling some students to travel onward to Delhi, many others remain stuck near the Azerbaijan border after being denied entry despite having valid travel bookings.
Students have informed the Association that they are exhausted, anxious, and facing severe hardships. Several are reportedly unwell, suffering from infections, and running out of money and basic necessities. Due to poor connectivity and the lack of facilities in the border region, many are unable to regularly contact their families, further increasing the distress among parents back home.
Khuehami said the families of the stranded students are deeply worried and spending sleepless nights, as their children remain trapped in a vulnerable situation amid the escalating conflict and uncertainty surrounding the border closure. The Association has appealed to the External Affairs Minister to urgently intervene and engage with Azerbaijani authorities to allow the students safe passage.
He urged the Minister to take up the matter with the Azerbaijani government and ensure that the stranded students are granted transit permission at the earliest, enabling them to proceed with their scheduled flights and return home safely.
The Association stressed that time is of the essence, given the deteriorating conditions at the border and the growing anxiety among students and their families. JKSA called for swift diplomatic intervention and coordinated evacuation efforts to prevent the situation from worsening and to ensure the safe return of all stranded Indian students