In a heartfelt gesture amid regional unrest, Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar met the final group of Indian students evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan. This operation, which rescued over 300 nationals including 189 students since March 6, exemplifies swift diplomatic action.
Baku’s Indian Embassy posted on X about the ambassador’s warm welcome, celebrating the safe passage of every soul. The route became indispensable after Iran shuttered its airspace post-US and Israel strikes on February 28, halting civilian aviation nationwide.
Comprehensive figures from Foreign Ministry’s Randhir Jaiswal indicate 2,361 Indians evacuated overall: 2,060 through Armenia and 301 via Azerbaijan. Students numbered 1,041, with three additional foreigners from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Guyana.
Relief is on the horizon as Mashhad Airport gears up for international flights from Monday, announced Iran’s aviation authority on Sunday. Full services will ramp up post technical clearances from military and civilian teams.
Media buzz suggests incremental advances in Iran-US negotiations, yet Speaker Ghalibaf warns of no complacency. With the ceasefire ending April 22, Iran balances talks with military preparedness, declaring readiness against foes.
India’s proactive evacuations highlight global citizen protection priorities. Ambassador Kumar’s presence boosted morale, signaling unwavering support. As air travel normalizes, remaining Indians eye direct paths home, while Delhi watches the ceasefire closely.
