When terror strikes or war breaks out anywhere in the world—be it in Ukraine, Palestine, or more recently Iran—Kashmir trembles in ways deeply personal. The moment conflict erupts, panic spreads like wildfire. Roads in the Valley witness mothers wailing, fathers pleading, and families demanding urgent evacuation of their loved ones studying outside Kashmir—whether in Delhi, Bengaluru, or now, Tehran. As the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, Kashmiri parents have once again taken to the streets. Just as missiles lit up the skies of the Middle East, worried families lit up Kashmir’s administrative offices and media channels with one cry: “Evacuate our children!” This reflexive panic isn’t irrational. It is rooted in decades of lived trauma. Kashmiris have survived insurgency, cross-border conflict, lockdowns, and sudden internet or airport closures. The fear that a child abroad may be stranded or forgotten during a global crisis is very real. Many still remember the helplessness during the COVID-19 lockdowns or the chaos when Kashmiri students were stuck in Ukraine as war erupted. These experiences have taught one lesson repeatedly: No one will come unless you shout.But we must ask—is panic the only option? Instead of reacting only after disaster strikes, we need a culture of foresight, resilience, and infrastructure readiness. The world is entering an age where wars, terrorist strikes, and political collapses are no longer rare or distant. Every region—from Africa to the Middle East to even Europe—is now unpredictable.The question Is not “How fast can we evacuate?” but “Why haven’t we prepared ourselves better?”
What Parents Can And Should Do: Replace anxiety with awareness. Emotional overreactions endanger more than they protect. Teach children practical survival skills—first aid, emergency communication, location-sharing, and calm decision-making. Rely on real news, not rumors. Panic in Kashmir often grows from WhatsApp forwards, not verified updates. Follow embassy advisories, trusted news sources, and fact-checked platforms. Plan for emergency from day one. Parents must ensure their children register with embassies, understand the legal system of their host country, and keep copies of all ID documents and insurances.
What the Government Must Urgently Do: Student safety tracking system. The J&K administration must collaborate with the Ministry of External Affairs to build a live, secure database of all Kashmiri students abroad. This helps initiate rescue missions faster. Dedicated crisis cells in embassies. Just like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have regional help desks abroad, Kashmir needs a permanent cell in Indian embassies that focuses on students from conflict-prone areas. Simulate disaster drills and response plans. Our education departments must collaborate with disaster response agencies to conduct simulation drills for students going abroad.
“There is an urgent need for policy change regarding the safety of students from Kashmir who are studying or working outside the region. The situation highlights emotional toll on families, particularly mothers, who are left in distress while seeking government intervention for their children’s safety. The call to action suggests that the current situation is untenable and requires immediate attention to prevent further suffering and ensure the well-being of students. The overarching message advocates for a proactive approach to safeguard the lives and futures of these individuals.”
A Wake-Up Call: There is an even more urgent lesson in all of this: Why must our children go abroad in the first place?The repeated crises reveal the glaring gap in Kashmir’s own higher education infrastructure. There is a critical, non-negotiable need for private investment in establishing world-class medical and engineering colleges in Kashmir. We cannot keep sending thousands of bright students to volatile regions—from conflict-torn Ukraine and Iran to overstretched cities in India—because Kashmir lacks capacity. We must stop exporting our dreams and start nurturing them locally. Government-run institutions alone cannot handle the demand. This is the moment to encourage public-private partnerships (PPP) in the education sector. Incentives must be offered for reputable institutions to open campuses in Kashmir. Only then can we build an ecosystem where our students receive quality education without having to risk their lives abroad.A healthy, educated society that doesn’t flee during every global crisis must begin by investing at home. To all the students of Kashmir in abroad: You are not just learners—you are the unofficial ambassadors of your land. In crisis, you must lead by example. Don’t spread panic on social media. Don’t isolate yourselves. Stay registered with Indian embassies. Know your local emergency numbers. Build networks of trust, and keep your families informed without inciting fear.
Moral Reflections: Why is our world erupting in such frequent violence? Are missiles and drones now mightier than moral dialogue?The Qur’an reminds: “Do not let hatred of a people lead you to injustice.” (5:8).The Bible pleads: “Turn your swords into ploughshares.” (Isaiah 2:4). The Gita warns: “Whenever adharma rises… I manifest myself to restore balance.” (Chapter 4, Verse 7). We live in a time where technology outpaces ethics, where news becomes fear-mongering, and where leadership too often resembles vengeance instead of wisdom. Amid all this, a small region like Kashmir must draw from its centuries-old tradition of balance, compassion, and pragmatism.
Conclusion;From Panic To Planning: Let us not walk the streets wailing every time a missile flies in some distant land. Let us instead build the kind of education, emergency, and diplomatic infrastructure that allows our children to pursue their dreams—without living under the constant shadow of being stranded, scared, or sacrificed. The world may not become safer. But we can become smarter. And that is how we must learn to survive these dark and dangerous shades of terror, war, or pandemic.
(The author a freelancer a teacher and a researcher based in Gowhar Pora Chadoora is also Advisor at The Nature University Kashmir. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Dr. Ashraf Zainabi
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