Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that 450 Pakistani pilgrims have been safely brought back from Iran amid escalating regional tensions.
In a statement posted on X, Dar announced that the evacuation was completed on Saturday, and reassured that the government was continuing to monitor the situation closely.
He added that arrangements were also being made for the safe return of 154 Pakistani students who are currently stranded in Iran.
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to assist Pakistani nationals stuck in Iraq, where airspace closures have complicated travel plans.
Read More: Pakistan Moves to Evacuate Zaireen from Iran
“Our embassy in Iraq is in contact with Pakistani Zaireen who are facing delays due to the suspension of flights. Work is underway to ensure their safety and comfort until evacuation becomes possible,” said Dar.
The Foreign Office’s Crisis Management Unit (CMU) is actively coordinating efforts 24/7 and can be reached at +92 51-9207887 or via email at cmu1@mofa.gov.pk.
“All of our embassies in the region are fully engaged in supporting and coordinating with Pakistani nationals,” the foreign minister added.
The evacuation efforts come in the wake of Israel’s major military operation against Iran in the early hours of Friday, where Israeli forces struck nuclear and military installations across Iran.
The attack targeted nuclear research centers, ballistic missile sites, and senior personnel of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leaving at least 78 people dead, including six nuclear scientists and top IRGC generals.
Among those reported killed were well-known figures in Iran’s nuclear community, including Abdulhamid Minouchehr, Ahmadreza Zolfaghari, and Fereydoun Abbasi.
Read More: Pakistani Zaireen’s Mortal Remains Arrive from Iran
In retaliation, Iranian ballistic missile attacks killed 6 people and wounded at least 91 across central Israel, in response to Israeli airstrikes targeting key nuclear and military sites inside Iran.
In the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, nine buildings were destroyed and hundreds of apartments were damaged.
