Kargil, Mar 16: As military exchanges intensify across West Asia following strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the Embassy of India in Tehran on Monday issued a renewed advisory urging Indian nationals not to attempt crossing any land border without prior coordination with the mission.
The advisory comes even as India continues evacuation efforts for its citizens in Iran. So far, more than 550 Indians have been evacuated through Armenia, including 285 residents of Ladakh, according to officials familiar with the operation.
Despite the ongoing evacuations, hundreds of pilgrims and religious scholars from Ladakh remain stranded in various Iranian cities, triggering growing concern among families in the Himalayan region.
The embassy warned that uncoordinated attempts to exit Iran through land borders could lead to serious logistical and immigration complications and may limit the ability of Indian authorities to extend assistance once travellers leave Iranian territory.
“All Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India,” the advisory stated.
The warning comes amid continuing hostilities in the region, with ongoing strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory attacks heightening risks for foreign nationals living across the country.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, nearly 9,000 Indians remain in Iran, including students, professionals, seafarers, businesspersons and pilgrims. The government has been assisting those seeking to leave the country by facilitating travel through neighbouring Armenia and Azerbaijan, where commercial flights are still operational.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday acknowledged Armenia’s support in enabling the evacuation process.
“Thank the Government and the people of Armenia for facilitating the safe evacuation of over 550 Indian nationals from Iran so far,” Jaishankar said during his visit to Brussels, adding that the cooperation came at a difficult moment.
Authorities have also shifted several Indian nationals from Tehran to relatively safer areas within Iran while further evacuation plans are being coordinated.
The situation has caused particular anxiety in Ladakh’s Kargil district, which has longstanding religious and educational links with Iran. Many residents travel there for theological studies and pilgrimages, creating a substantial Ladakhi presence in Iranian institutions.
Haneefa Jan said around 900 Ladakhi religious scholars, commonly known as tallubs, along with their family members remain in Iran.
He said coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs are underway to ensure the safe and early evacuation of Indian nationals.
“About 9,000 Indians are currently in Iran, including nearly 900 tallubs from Ladakh with their families. The government is working on coordinated measures to facilitate their safe return,” the Ladakh MP said.
Many Ladakhi students and pilgrims have reportedly been attempting to travel by road toward the Armenian border in hopes of securing flights back to India, but authorities have urged them to move only through embassy-managed arrangements.
Families in Kargil and other parts of Ladakh say they remain in constant contact with their relatives, many of whom have described air raid sirens and growing uncertainty in Iranian cities.
Community representatives have called for accelerated evacuation arrangements for Ladakhi scholars and pilgrims as tensions continue to grip the region.
Indian officials maintain that all departures from Iran must remain strictly coordinated with the embassy to ensure safe passage through international borders and avoid complications during transit.
