QUETTA, Pakistan – March 5: Pakistani nationals escaping Iran have recounted harrowing experiences of explosions and missile strikes that have violently shaken Tehran, causing buildings to erupt in flames and plumes of smoke to fill the air. The Iranian capital, once bustling with life, now appears largely deserted as many residents have fled in fear of the ongoing conflict. This escalation follows a series of aggressive military actions, including a U.S. submarine sinking an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka and NATO forces intercepting an Iranian missile aimed at Turkey, signaling a sharp intensification of hostilities in the region.
Among those who narrowly escaped the chaos is Hareem Zahra, a 23-year-old engineering student at Tehran University. She described the moment a powerful explosion rattled her university building while she was in class. “The ground trembled beneath us, and thick smoke was rising from multiple buildings engulfed in flames,” she recalled after crossing into Pakistan via the land border. Hareem emphasized that the attacks on Tehran persisted right up until her departure, underscoring the relentless nature of the bombardment.
Tehran’s eerie emptiness has been confirmed by several eyewitnesses, including Nadir Abbas, a 25-year-old Persian literature student. He described the city as resembling a ghost town, with widespread destruction and a palpable atmosphere of fear. Abbas also mentioned witnessing a drone strike on a basketball court, tragically killing six female players, though this specific incident remains unverified by independent sources. The scale of devastation has left many parts of the city in ruins, with collapsed buildings and ongoing fires.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran, Mudassir Tipu, revealed that nearly 1,000 Pakistanis—comprising students, businesspeople, and pilgrims—have fled Iran since the conflict erupted. This figure is significant given the total Pakistani population in Iran stands at around 35,000. The ambassador highlighted the severe challenges faced by those remaining, including widespread internet outages that have cut off communication for many. These disruptions complicate efforts to coordinate evacuations and keep families informed about their loved ones’ safety.
The conflict’s roots lie in a series of retaliatory strikes following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by U.S. and Israeli forces last Saturday. In response, Iran launched ballistic missile attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf allies of Washington, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. This tit-for-tat escalation has drawn Pakistan into a delicate diplomatic balancing act. Islamabad is striving to maintain its improving relations with the United States while simultaneously expressing solidarity with Iran, home to the world’s second-largest Shia Muslim population after Iran itself. The risk of internal instability and sectarian tensions within Pakistan is a growing concern amid these developments.
Firsthand accounts from Pakistani students in Tehran paint a grim picture of life amid the conflict. Sakhi Aun Mohammad, a medical student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, recounted how the initial missile strike occurred near his hospital. After safely crossing into Pakistan, he received a distressing call from an Iranian friend who confirmed that his hostel had been hit during the attacks. Another Pakistani diplomat, who remains in Tehran, described the relentless nature of the bombardments, with missile strikes occurring every four to five hours. He detailed how explosions often felt as if they were happening right at his feet, and how the city’s landscape had been transformed by collapsed buildings and widespread fires.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the Pakistani government faces mounting pressure to ensure the safe evacuation of its citizens while managing the complex geopolitical implications of the conflict. The unfolding crisis in Tehran not only threatens regional stability but also poses significant humanitarian challenges for those caught in the crossfire. For now, the streets of Tehran stand silent, bearing the scars of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
