Nearly 900 Indian nationals, mostly students from Jammu and Kashmir, have crossed from Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan amid the ongoing conflict. The external affairs ministry said 882 people, including students, businesspeople and pilgrims, made the crossing, with some already returning home. The Indian embassy has assisted in the process.
The external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly briefing on Thursday that about 9,000 Indians were in Iran when Israel and the US launched strikes on February 28, sparking a conflict that has since widened. With Iran's airspace closed, the Indian embassy facilitated crossings to Armenia and Azerbaijan and relocated hundreds of students from Tehran and Qom to safer areas. Of the 882 Indians who crossed, 772 entered Armenia and 110 Azerbaijan. Several have returned home, including most of a group of 284 pilgrims to Armenia. Jaiswal noted, “The Iranian border is easy to cross but you get stuck on the Azeri side.” Border flow to Azerbaijan faces difficulties due to crowds. Sources said Azerbaijan allows only 10 Indians per day via land border, turning back others. Many Kashmir students prefer Azerbaijan for cheaper flights. The Tehran mission advised all Indians to coordinate with the embassy.