GWADAR: Around 250 Pakist­ani pilgrims and students studying in Iran arrived in the coastal dis­t­rict of Gwadar on Monday even­ing.

“As many as 250 pilgrims and students, including females, ente­red Pakistan from Iran through Gabad 251, an entry point at the Pak­­istan-Iran border,” officials said.

Border authorities received the pilgrims and students at the border crossing and provided them with necessary facilities, including food.

“We reached Gabad by road as all flights from Iran have been cancelled,” said Hadiqa Wahid, 23, a student of a medical university in Mashhad, while speaking to Dawn at the border. She added that the people of Iran had shown remarkable courage in the face of Israeli attacks.

“I myself witnessed missiles in the air, which were defused by Iranian forces through their strong defence system,” said another student, Hadiqa Batool. She further said that after the attack on Iran, the Iranian government had closed medical and other educational institutions in Mashhad and other provinces to ensure the safety of students.

Muhammad Kaman, 24, from Multan, said he had travelled to Mashhad with his family for Ziarat, but they were forced to return to Pakistan by road as all flights had been cancelled.

According to border authorities, over 4,000 pilgrims and students have returned to Pakistan so far through the Gabad border crossing.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2025