Pakistani students injured in Kyrgyzstan violence

Violent clashes have erupted between student groups in Bishkek – the capital city of Kyrgyzstan – leaving many Pakistani students injured.

According to the Advisor for Information in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, three Pakistani students have been killed in the incidents.

However, Foreign office denied any causality of Pakistani students, but confirmed some hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis were attacked.

They were advised to ‘stay indoors’ amid violent clashes, which is targeting international students from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

“Pakistani female students are being harassed. Violence has occurred in the hostels, targeting both male and female students. Kyrgyz students are attacking foreign students across Bishkek,” said one Pakistani student.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MEDICAL STUDENTS IN KYRGYZSTAN (@medical_students_in_kyrgyzstan)

Advisor for Information in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Saif said that there are 10,000 Pakistanis studying in Kyrgyzstan. He urged the government to protect them.

Videos of clashes went viral on social media.

Moreover, the Pakistani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan said: “We are taking measures to ensure the safety of the students.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MEDICAL STUDENTS IN KYRGYZSTAN (@medical_students_in_kyrgyzstan)

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, acknowledged the message received from the Pakistani embassy and confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Kyrgyz authorities. “The protection of Pakistanis is of utmost importance,” the spokesperson said.

The envoy also shared helpline numbers +996555554476 and +996507567667, asking the students to call in case of emergency.

“In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advises all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation returns to normal. We are liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure safety of our student fraternity,” the ambassador said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MEDICAL STUDENTS IN KYRGYZSTAN (@medical_students_in_kyrgyzstan)

It is worth mentioning here that, there had been a number of incidents of mob violence against foreign students in Bishkek since last evening.

Quoting the Kyrgyz press, it said that the matter boiled over after a video of a fight between Kyrgyz students and medical students from Egypt was shared on May 13.