June 24, 2025
By Nadeem Khan
QUETTA
As the sun begins to set behind Quetta’s arid hills, the streets of Marriabad become busier. Convoys arrive carrying evacuees from Iran, and men and women step off their buses, some holding small bags, others pausing at stalls. These are not everyday commuters, but Pakistani students and pilgrims who have recently been evacuated after rising tensions between Iran and Israel.
The passengers look tired after the journey. Among them is Naila Batool, a medical student from Kerman, who had to leave her studies midway. While Kerman was still somewhat calm, the general situation in Iran is growing worse, and so her university advised foreign students to return home.
“If things get worse, we will start online classes,” she says.
Evacuation details
Since June 18, about 1,800 Pakistanis students, pilgrims, and traders and 12 foreign nationals have been evacuated through the Taftan border. Pakistan shares a nearly 900 km border with Iran across five districts in southwestern Balochistan, Chagai, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech, and Gwadar. These areas are closely connected, especially among the Baloch people who live on both sides of the border.
After arriving in Quetta, the returnees stay for a night at an Imambargah (religious centre) in Marriabad before moving on to their home provinces.
Safety and support in Quetta
Marriabad, a mostly Shia majority neighbourhood that includes the Hazara community, is one of the most heavily secured areas in the provincial capital Quetta. Surrounded by hills and checkpoints of the security forces, it is well protected because of past security threats.
Shehzad Ali Akhtar, the caretaker of the Imambargah here says, “We are providing everything they need – food, beds, and help to get them to their home provinces safely.”
Kalim Shah, the Assistant Commissioner (Political) of Quetta, tells Voicepk that all evacuees are being taken care of quite well.
“We receive the passengers from Taftan and each morning arrange transport to take them home,” he said.
Future concerns
Aizaz Ahsan, an eighth-semester student also from Kerman, expresses his worry about finishing the course.
“After attacks in Bandar Abbas and Hormozgan, people feared Kerman might be hit too,” he said. “I was hopeful about completing my degree, but now I’m not sure what will happen.”
The Iran and Israel war has left people in the entire region worried, and those seeking education are affected the most because in these times it is difficult to say when their courses will resume. But despite everything, the students still carry that glimmer of hope that the situation will soon be better enough for them to return and continue.