Pakistani students returning from Iran on Thursday reported hearing gunshots and witnessing accounts of rioting and violence while confined to their campus dormitories. The unrest in Iran, which began as protests over soaring prices, escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations, posing one of the biggest challenges to the incumbent establishment.
Shahanshah Abbas, a fourth-year student at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, described hearing gunfire during the evenings while being restricted to campus.
Students were instructed to remain in their dormitories after 4pm, with no movement allowed outside. Although nothing occurred on campus itself, Abbas said he heard reports of damage and chaos in surrounding areas, including banks and mosques being set on fire.
Final-year student Arslan Haider noted that the riots usually erupted later in the day, and he struggled to contact his family due to a week-long internet blackout. With international calls now restored, students began returning home as families expressed concern for their safety.
A Pakistani diplomat in Tehran confirmed that the embassy was assisting students by relaying messages to their families. Many of the roughly 3,500 Pakistani students in Iran had used local phone numbers to inform the embassy of their status.
Rimsha Akbar, another student, highlighted the efforts of Iranians to ensure the safety of international students. She reported hearing accounts of shelling, tear gas, and fatalities from local residents, emphasizing the seriousness of the unrest.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly threatened intervention in support of protesters but took a cautious stance as demonstrations appeared to subside.
Despite the violence and communication challenges, Pakistani students confirmed that international students were kept safe on campus. Authorities monitored the situation closely, and efforts were made to ensure that students could return to Pakistan safely, even as protests in Iran had caused significant disruption in multiple cities.
