(Image source from: x.com/MEAIndia)
Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu, an essential initiative aimed at bringing its citizens home from West Asia. A key achievement in this effort occurred late on Friday, June 20, when a charter flight from Mashhad, Iran, safely arrived at the Delhi airport, carrying 290 Indian students, predominantly from Jammu and Kashmir. This charter, organized through an Iranian airline by the Indian authorities, made its landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 11:30 pm IST. The successful arrival brought significant relief to both the students and their anxious families, who found themselves in a precarious situation due to the worsening security conditions in Iran, caused by extensive aerial bombings and missile strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran.
Arun Kumar Chatterjee, the secretary (CPV & OIA) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), welcomed the flight and confirmed that among the evacuees, 190 were from Jammu and Kashmir, while others came from Haryana, Delhi, and West Bengal. The primary aim of Operation Sindhu is to return around 1,000 Indian nationals from Iran, including students engaged in various professional studies and religious pilgrims. In an act of cooperation, Iran temporarily lifted its airspace restriction, which was in place due to the ongoing conflict, to enable India’s evacuation flights. This decision allowed the direct flight from Mashhad to take place. Earlier in the week, students were moved from Tehran to safer cities, such as Qom, before being transferred to Mashhad for their flight home.
#OperationSindhu flight brings citizens home.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 20, 2025
evacuated 290 Indian nationals from Iran, including students and religious pilgrims by a charter flight. The flight arrived in New Delhi at 2330 hrs on 20 June and was received by Secretary (CPV& OIA) Arun Chatterjee.
Government… pic.twitter.com/ZORq0aeza5
This particular flight was not the first rescue mission under Operation Sindhu. On Thursday, June 19, a group of 110 Indian students, mainly from Urmia University, had already been successfully brought back to Delhi. These students traveled overland to Armenia before catching a flight from Yerevan to New Delhi. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been actively overseeing the progress and verifying that further students—mostly from his state—are being evacuated via land to Armenia before being airlifted.
The Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Indian citizens overseas. They are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining regular communication with the Indian community in Iran. Additional evacuation flights are planned for Saturday, including one from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and another from Mashhad, to facilitate the return of more nationals under Operation Sindhu.
