Budgam , Jan 16: With tensions escalating in Iran following threats of military action by US President Donald Trump, protests have erupted in parts of India against the United States. Kashmiri Shia Muslims staged demonstrations in Srinagar in support of Iran, condemning US interference in the country’s internal affairs. Similar protests were held in Budgam, where demonstrators marched from Imambara to Main Chowk.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticised the US, blaming it for instability in Muslim countries. Citing Gaza as an example, she said Iran should not fall for what she termed “deceptive narratives” and should stand with its government. Mufti also expressed concern over changing India-Iran relations under the BJP-led government, noting Iran’s historically close ties with both India and Kashmir.
The unrest in Iran, which began in December 2025, has intensified in recent days, with media reports estimating casualties ranging from under 3,000 to over 12,000. Amid the violence, several Indians, including many students from Kashmir, are reportedly stranded in different parts of Iran.
Families of the stranded students have appealed to the Government of India for their early evacuation. Political leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti and Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid, have written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking immediate rescue measures. The Ministry of External Affairs is reportedly preparing evacuation plans as the situation evolves.
Meanwhile, some Kashmiri students studying at Gulistan University of Medical Sciences in Gorgan released a video message assuring their families that they are safe and that the university administration is providing all necessary support.
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Darakhshan Andrabi praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritising the evacuation of Indians from conflict zones, expressing confidence that all Indian students would be brought home safely. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also spoke with EAM Jaishankar, who assured that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard Indians, including students from J&K, currently in Iran.