Evacuation of Indian Students from Iran

Amid increasing tensions between Iran and Israel, the Indian Embassy in Tehran facilitated the evacuation of at least 110 stranded students to Armenia via the Nurduz-Agarak border crossing. They are set to arrive in New Delhi on a special flight from Yerevan.

Challenges of Evacuation

• Iranian Airspace Closure: With Iranian airspace closed indefinitely, evacuations have been redirected through land borders.
• Diplomatic Relations: India's relations with several of Iran's neighboring countries present challenges: 
  • Pakistan is a primary geopolitical rival with strained ties following a recent military conflict.
  • Iran's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed to Indian evacuees due to their support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
  • India has no official ties with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
• Viable Evacuation Routes:
  • The Iran-Armenia border is the most viable route due to logistical ease and connectivity via a major highway spanning 730 km.
  • The Turkmenistan border presents logistical challenges due to sparse population.
  • The Iraq border is dangerous due to ongoing conflict, and its airports are mostly closed.

India-Armenia Relations

India's long-standing diplomatic relations with Armenia are beneficial for current evacuation efforts, and are shaped by geopolitical considerations:

• India supports Armenia in its conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and has become Armenia's largest military supplier, surpassing Russia.
• Armenia backs India in international platforms, supporting bilateral resolution of the Kashmir issue and India's UN Security Council aspirations.
• Armenia plays a key role in the International North-South Transport Corridor, crucial for connecting India to Europe through Armenia and Iran, boosting India's geopolitical and economic interests.