Foreign Office summoned Kyrgyz top envoy following mob violence against Pakistani students in Bishkek earlier in the day. Islamabad conveyed deep concern about the reports of assaults on Pakistani students to the Kyrgyz diplomat.
MoFA emphasized that the Kyrgyz government must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students.
“The Government of Pakistan is deeply committed to the protection and safety of its citizens abroad and will take all necessary actions to ensure their well-being,” The demarche said.
Amid the worrisome development, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar directed officials to closely monitor the situation in Kyrgyzstan and provide full assistance and facilities to Pakistani citizens there.
Pakistani students in Bishkek were advised to “stay indoors” after being among the foreign students subjected to mob violence by locals early Saturday. According to the embassy in Bishkek, the violence against foreign students followed a brawl between Egyptian nationals and locals a few days earlier.
Police indicated that the attack was provoked by foreigners, whose nationality was not immediately clear, beating up locals in the city.
Several arrested as violent clashes targeted Pakistani students
Several Kyrgys nationals were detained following mob violence in Bishkek on May 17-18, which injured dozens of Pakistani and other foreigners.
The violence, triggered by a video of a fight between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students, led to diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, advising their students to stay indoors. Pakistani students reported being attacked and trapped in their hostels.
Kyrgyz authorities also launched an investigation, attributing the unrest to issues with illegal migrants, particularly from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Amidst ongoing crackdowns, Kyrgyz authorities arrested 28 alleged illegal Pakistani workers and shut down over 400 foreign student delivery services for safety reasons.
