Operation Sindhu: India Evacuates Nationals from Conflict-Hit Iran
The Government of India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran due to rising tensions in the region. The conflict between Israel and Iran had deepened, and the need to ensure the safety of Indian nationals was paramount. 110 students from northern Iran were evacuated, the first phase of the operation, under the able assistance of the Indian Embassy.
Operation Sindhu Context
In light of concerns about military strikes by Israel on Iran, Operation Sindhu was instigated. The safety of citizens was the primary concern of the Government of India, especially with regards to students studying in Iran. reports indicated many Indian nationals were in a vulnerable state due to hostilities in the region.
Evacuation process
The first operations saw 110 students evacuated from Northern Iran, that were primarily students from Jammu and Kashmir, taken from Iran into Armenia, then returned to New Delhi on a special Indian Government flight, aided by the Indian Embassy, before passing via land into Armenia. The students who contributed to the numbers returned back to India in the early hours of June 19th, 2025.
Iranian Authorities
Condeing that foreign nationals in crisis would be kept in mind, during a call from Iranian authorities, the Iranian Deputy Ambassador to India said, without the cooperation of Iranian and Indian authorities, the Indian nationals could not have potentially been facilitated by safe evacuation.The evacuees would need to be dispatrched from the embassy.
Challenges for evacuees
Some students suffered injuries from air strikes while in Teheran. Circumstances for many were dire, and reports indicated that essential service access was either limited or completely unavailable. Many also expressed their concerns regarding communication with the Indian Embassy, and the provision of basic essentials.
Broader Implications of the Conflict
The conflict posed delicate diplomatic challenges for India. Over 4,000 Indian nationals (including students) were present in Iran. The Government of India had the complicated task of co-ordinating safe evacuations, while balancing regional relationships.
Co-ordinating Regional Diplomatic Relations
India has had relatively good diplomatic relations with its neighbouring states of Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Iraq, which was critically helpful in enabling evacuation. Conversely, relations with bordering states such as Turkey and Azerbaijan were negative, thus reducing India’s strategic options.
Next Steps
The Government of India advised its citizens to keep in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and utilize emergency contact numbers. The regional situation was closely monitored to assist with both the safety of Indian nationals in Iran and preparing for potential further evacuations.