QUETTA, Pakistan: At least 100 Pakistani citizens, including students and pilgrims, have returned from Iran over the past two days through the Pakistan-Iran border in the southwestern province of Balochistan, as violent anti-government protests grip cities across the Islamic republic, confirmed a Pakistani official on Tuesday.
The returnees crossed into Pakistan via the Gabad-250 border crossing in Gwadar district, according to the official who works with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
“At least 100 Pakistani citizens comprising students and pilgrims have crossed into Pakistan from Iran during the last two days,” he told Arab News, adding that families were also among those returning and that the group belonged to various parts of the country.
The official said no Pakistani nationals had crossed the border on Tuesday but authorities remained on alert.
“We are prepared to receive more Pakistani citizens due to the ongoing situation in Iran,” he added.
Pakistan shares a 909-kilometer border with Iran, stretching across Balochistan province, with several official crossings in Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur and Chaghi districts.
A senior government official in Chaghi district said the administration had not recorded any Pakistani returnees via the Taftan border crossing, the main land route between the two countries, since the protests began.
Islamabad has issued travel adviseries in response to the unrest in the neighboring country.
On Jan. 1, Pakistan advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, citing safety concerns linked to the protests.
“Pakistani nationals currently residing in Iran are urged to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant, minimize non-essential travel, and stay in regular contact with the Pakistani missions,” the foreign office said in a statement, sharing emergency contact details for its diplomatic missions.
The Pakistani embassy in Tehran has also established a crisis management unit to provide round-the-clock assistance to citizens.
Iran has been witnessing nationwide protests since late December, when shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shut their businesses to protest worsening economic conditions, particularly after the Iranian rial plunged to record lows against the US dollar.
The unrest quickly spread beyond Tehran, with demonstrations reported across most of Iran’s 31 provinces, involving traders, students and other groups.
Iranian authorities have responded with a security crackdown, including arrests, use of force and Internet and mobile network disruptions, measures that rights groups say are aimed at curbing coordination and limiting coverage of the protests.
