Two flights are scheduled to arrive in Delhi tonight as part of Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Iran due to the Israel-Iran conflict.
According to sources, two evacuation flights will be arriving in India tonight. The first flight is expected to land in Delhi around 11:30 PM, and the second flight will also land in Delhi around 3 AM. The first flight will come from Mashhad, and the second flight will be coming from Ashgabat.
The Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran, given the deteriorating situation as a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah provided an update on the evacuation of Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, stranded in Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, emphasising the use of land routes to Armenia for their safe return.
He said over 300 to 400 students are expected to reach safer zones by today, from where they will be repatriated to India via Armenia.
He stated, “We cannot evacuate them overnight because no airports are open, no ports are operational. We are first bringing them by road to cities where there is no bombing, and from there, efforts are being made to bring them back to India via Armenia. Today, we expect around 300 to 400 more students to arrive, most of whom are from Jammu and Kashmir. We will bring them back home safely, and there is a sense of hope all around.”
Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Abdullah called for de-escalation through dialogue.
“The India-Pakistan issue is a separate matter, and the Israel-Iran issue is different. In any case, this bombing should never have started. Earlier, when the head of U.S. intelligence was asked whether Iran had nuclear weapons, he said he didn’t think they would be able to make one anytime soon. But within a few months, Israel launched attacks on Iran. These attacks must stop, and the issues should be resolved through dialogue,” he said.
Abdullah also voiced concerns over the dynamics of India-U.S. relations, suggesting that the United States prioritises its own interests over bilateral ties with India.
He said, “We can’t dictate to the US President whom he should invite for dinner. We used to think the US President was our close friend, and he would respect that, but the US does what benefits it…”
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday welcomed the first group of 110 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. (ANI)
