
Amid rising Iran-Israel conflict, EAM speaks with counterparts in UAE, Armenia
New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) Amid the continued missile attacks between Iran and Israel, India has been in touch with the UAE and Armenia in the likely evacuation of some 1,300 Indian students stuck in Iran.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his counterparts from both the UAE and Armenia today. Armenia shares a land border with Iran while UAE shares a maritime border.
EAM Jaishankar spoke with the Deputy PM and Foreign Minister of UAE Abdullah bin Zayed during which they discussed the current situation in the Middle East and the role of diplomacy.
'Had a telecon with DPM & FM @ABZayed of UAE on the current situation in West Asia and the role of diplomacy.
'Agreed to remain in touch.
On his conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, EAM Jaishankar said they discussed the current situation in the region and their bilateral cooperation.
'Spoke with FM @AraratMirzoyan of Armenia.
'Discussed ongoing developments in the region and our close cooperation.'
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has said it is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging with Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that in some cases, Indian students are being relocated with the Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow, it added.
Separately, the Indian Embassy is in touch with Indian community leaders regarding their welfare and safety.
There are around 1,300 Kashmiri students currently studying in Iran who are stranded amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has appealed to PM Modi for emergency evacuation of the stranded Kashmiri students from Iran amid the conflict.
UNI RN

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Not So ‘Nobel'? Why Pakistan's Push For Trump Reeks Of A Strategic Gamble
Last Updated: Official sources in India said Pakistan's move is aimed at strengthening ties with US, securing economic and technological support, and gaining American backing on Kashmir In a diplomatic move, Pakistan has formally nominated US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Official sources within Pakistan's government have confirmed that the nomination stems from their belief that Trump played a pivotal role in defusing the tensions during the India-Pakistan crisis of May 2025. However, official sources in India told CNN-News18 that Pakistan's move is aimed at strengthening ties with the United States, securing economic and technological support, and gaining American backing for its position on the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan's Desperate Push The Nobel nomination comes after what Islamabad describes as Trump's 'decisive diplomatic intervention" in de-escalating the May 2025 crisis between India and Pakistan. Pakistani officials have credited Trump for averting what could have been a catastrophic nuclear conflict. 'This move is about acknowledging President Trump's key role in ensuring peace during a period of intense crisis," one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'We believe that Trump's mediation was instrumental in averting escalation, and we are seeking international recognition of his contribution." However, this narrative has been categorically rejected by India. Indian government sources have expressed strong opposition to Pakistan's claims, dismissing them as factually incorrect and misleading. In an official statement, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri rejected the suggestion that Trump mediated the crisis, stating, 'India did not seek or accept any third-party mediation during the crisis, and Pakistan's attempts to rewrite the history of the events are not based in reality." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his public remarks, further dismissed Pakistan's narrative, refusing to engage with any external mediation efforts, including those from Trump. 'India has always managed its security concerns on its own and does not require the intervention of any third party," he said. This week, PM Modi also declined Trump's invite to visit the United States on his return journey from Canada, citing his pre-existing schedule. The development came as PM Modi spoke with Trump and set the record straight that India's 'Operation Sindoor' was 'paused" following a request from Pakistan and not due to mediation or offer of a trade deal by the US. According to official sources within the Indian government, the Indian leadership maintained full control over the crisis and managed it without any foreign involvement. Indian Defence Secretary RK Singh provided further details, telling a news agency: 'All communications during the crisis were thoroughly documented, including logs and records that make it clear that India initiated the calls. Any claims of third-party mediation are unfounded." Singh's comments were aimed at countering Pakistan's narrative, which has been widely disseminated in international forums and media. The Kashmir Angle Pakistan's push to nominate Trump is also linked to its long-standing goal of internationalising the Kashmir issue. Islamabad has consistently sought global support for its position on Kashmir, which India maintains is a bilateral issue to be resolved solely between the two countries. Indian government officials have made it clear that any third-party involvement in the Kashmir dispute is unacceptable. 'The Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter, and India will not tolerate any external interference," said a senior Ministry of External Affairs official, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Pakistan's attempt to gain international support through this Nobel nomination is part of its ongoing campaign to internationalise Kashmir, which India has firmly rejected." In contrast, Pakistan has highlighted Trump's previous offers to mediate the Kashmir dispute as evidence of his willingness to involve himself in the issue. According to Pakistani diplomatic sources, this endorsement of Trump is aimed at pushing the United States to take a more active role in the region. Munir's Ambition The diplomatic push for the Nobel nomination has raised eyebrows in both Pakistan and India. There are reports that General Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, is positioning himself as a potential co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Trump. While this remains unconfirmed, Indian intelligence sources suggest that Munir's growing role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy may be influencing the country's decision to publicly support Trump. 'Munir is an ambitious leader," said an Indian security analyst, 'and while the Nobel campaign may seem like a strategic move to secure Pakistani interests, it could also be a personal gambit to raise his own stature on the international stage." Interestingly, the nomination demand came after a rare White House meeting between Trump and Munir in which geo-political issues ranging from the Israel-Iran conflict, and Kashmir to defence purchasing were discussed. The Bigger Picture For Pakistan, the move is seen as a way to potentially gain economic concessions, technological transfers, and a softer US stance on its nuclear programme. In particular, Pakistan hopes that by aligning itself with Trump's leadership, it can secure American backing for its position on Kashmir, despite India's firm objections. top videos View all For India, however, the matter is a reminder that, despite Pakistan's claims, the Kashmir issue remains firmly within India's domain and will not be internationalised through external mediation. The coming months will reveal whether Pakistan's strategic gamble will pay off or whether it will simply be seen as a fleeting diplomatic gesture in the complex web of South Asian geopolitics. tags : Asim Munir donald trump Kashmir Nobel Prize pakistan United states Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: June 21, 2025, 11:36 IST News world Not So 'Nobel'? Why Pakistan's Push For Trump Reeks Of A Strategic Gamble | Exclusive


Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
BJP-JD(U) ruined Bihar's economy and social fabric in last 20 years: Congress
Patna: Congress on Saturday slammed the BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar over 'ruining' the state's economy and social fabric in the last 20 years of their rule. 'The BJP-JD(U) alliance has ruined Bihar's economy, governance, and social fabric during their 20-year rule. This has been clearly proven by the reports of the reputed global institutions. That's why we've launched a campaign to expose how Bihar has suffered under Nitish Kumar's leadership,' said Congress spokesperson Prem Chand Mishra while addressing a press conference in Patna. As part of the campaign, Mishra cited a recent report by CARE Ratings, a global agency, which ranked Bihar last among 17 large Indian states on key development indicators. 'Bihar received just 34.8 points in the Social and Economic Development Index, scoring the lowest across parameters such as education, health, infrastructure, fiscal management, and economic activity,' Mishra said. Based on the CARE Ratings Report, Mishra pointed out that Bihar ranks 17th out of 17 major states on social and economic development. He said that poor performance in education quality, maternal and infant mortality rates, employment generation, weak scores on women empowerment, infrastructure, per capita income, alarming fiscal indicators, including debt management, interest payment ratio, fiscal deficit, severe deficiencies in electricity access, railway density, healthcare services, and school teacher ratios. He also said that the weak judicial efficiency, e-governance, investment environment, and environmental metrics are also poor, including air quality and renewable energy adoption. 'Bihar is now behind even Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh — states it once competed with. The figures speak for themselves, and corruption and poor governance are to blame,' Mishra said. He alleged that the government's much-publicised development narrative is hollow and lacks substance on the ground. Mishra added that even the Union government data contradicts the NDA's claims of progress. 'Bihar is in deep crisis, socially, economically, and administratively. The only way out is a change in government and a policy revolution,' he concluded. This marks a major strategic move by the Congress to build a data-backed campaign against the NDA ahead of the Assembly elections. With just four months to go, the party appears poised to corner the ruling alliance on its development record, particularly using central and global institutional reports as ammunition.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Days After Her "Papa, Save Me" SOS, Indian Student In Iran Returns Home
New Delhi: "Papa, save me," an Indian student who was stuck in conflict-hit Iran wrote to her father on June 13. Today, she met her father after landing in Delhi in an evacuation flight arranged by India under 'Operation Sindhu'. Zoya Rizvi, from Noida, was studying medicine in Iran. On June 13, she messaged her father that a military base that was close to her place in Iran was struck by Israel. "They have attacked a military base. If I have ever said anything wrong to you, please forgive me... Papa, save me," read her message. She ended her message on an ominous note, "I am going to sleep now. You will know tomorrow if I am alive or not." "I got really scared," Ms Rizvi said today while standing next to her visibly emotional father at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. She told NDTV that she saw interceptions and bombings. "There was an attack close to the place I was staying," she said. Ms Rizvi also thanked the governments of India and Iran for the evacuation of the students. "The Indian embassy helped a lot, they relocated us, first to Qom, then Mashhad... Then the airspace was opened, so we came here from Mashhad, she said. Another student, from Jammu and Kashmir, said she saw drone attacks while she was in Iran. Syeda Farwa, however, insisted that she wanted to go back when the situation is better. Iran lifted its airspace restrictions on Friday for India's ' Operation Sindhu' to evacuate its nationals from Iran. The country opened its airspace for three flights to evacuate Indians. More than 800 Indian nationals have so far returned home from Iran under Operation Sindhu, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday. Thousands of Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, are stranded in Iran. Mohammad Javad Hosseini, the deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy, said more evacuation flights could be operated in the coming days to bring back Indians if required. He said about 10,000 Indians are living in Iran, and those wishing to return home are being evacuated. The Israeli military said today that it struck Iran's nuclear research facility in Isfahan, for the second time in the latest round of conflict between the longtime enemies. Isfahan was hit in the first 24 hours of the crisis as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. The Israeli military is also preparing for a "prolonged campaign" to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. The latest round of conflict started on June 13 when Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and scientists in Iran.