Azerbaijan Border Nightmare: Kashmir Families Beg Centre for Rescue
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A dire plea echoes from Jammu and Kashmir: rescue over 200 students trapped at Azerbaijan’s edge after escaping Iran’s conflict zones. Families, tormented by health scares and costs, implore the Centre for swift governmental machinery to activate.
Hailing from study hubs in Isfahan, Golestan, Shiraz, and Kerman, these students traversed the Iran-Armenia frontier amid chaos sparked on February 28. Now, at Azerbaijan, visa snags and limited daily clearances—mere 6-10—prolong their plight.
Financial hemorrhage continues as self-arranged travels drain savings. ‘Government aid is essential in crisis,’ asserts a parent amid reports of flu outbreaks and infections sans medical support. Prolonged stranding since March 12 meant forfeited flights and penalties.
March 20-25 repatriation windows flicker uncertainly for university batches. Positive notes include 151 recent border successes, yet many with March 15-17 tickets wait in despair. The 1,200-strong Kashmiri student cohort in Iran faces collective jeopardy.
External Affairs engages Iranian counterparts, but grassroots pressure mounts via protests and helpline overloads. This episode reveals stark realities of diaspora vulnerabilities in hotspots.
With temperatures dropping and ailments rising, time is critical. Families unite in resolve: prioritize these stranded youth. A coordinated, high-priority evacuation could restore faith and safety.
