Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah urges students in Iran to return before closure of airspace

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged students studying in Iran to follow the Union government's advisory and return home before the closure of airspace.

Former chief minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also reiterated the appeal, stating that students should return from Iran while travel remains operational.

The Embassy of India in Tehran has asked Indian citizens to "leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights." The advisory was issued in the wake of fresh protests in Iran following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.


The NC president said that if the students do not return in time and the airspace is closed tomorrow, their parents may panic. "They should leave before it comes to that. Otherwise, there will be no one to evacuate them. When the advisory has been issued, they should pack their bags and return home," Abdullah said.

Some of the students have arrived in India; however, many have expressed concern that their examinations are scheduled in March and that if they leave the country, they would lose the whole academic year. They have urged the government of India to appeal to the university authorities in Iran to reschedule the examinations.

"We have received information from students that their exams are scheduled for March 5. We have written to the Prime Minister, requesting that the exams be postponed and that universities be informed accordingly so students can return home without difficulty," said Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, president, J&K All India Medical Students Association.