Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday to address the concerns of Pakistani students who, along with other foreign nationals, were subjected to mob attacks by locals the previous week.
Pakistan has been intensifying its efforts to evacuate its students from Bishkek following violent mob attacks. These incidents have resulted in the return of over 800 students to Pakistan. The violence, which left at least five Pakistani students injured, was sparked by a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students, leading to attacks on the hostels of medical universities and private lodgings of international students, including Pakistanis.
Upon his arrival in Bishkek, Foreign Minister Dar had a detailed meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovich.
According to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO), both sides reaffirmed their longstanding friendly relations and their commitment to strengthening people-to-people contacts. The ministers discussed the recent violence against foreigners, including Pakistanis, in Kyrgyzstan. Dar expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz government for quickly restoring normalcy and ensuring the safety of Pakistani students, hoping for accountability for those responsible for the violence.
The Kyrgyz foreign minister detailed the measures taken to restore law and order, pledged to prosecute the perpetrators of the riots, and reassured the commitment to ensure the security of all foreigners, including Pakistanis.
Deputy Premier Dar also visited the National Hospital in Bishkek to meet Shahzaib, a Pakistani textile worker injured in the mob violence. He was welcomed at the hospital by Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov and Kyrgyz Minister for Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev. Shahzaib, expressing a desire to return to Pakistan for further treatment, will travel back with Dar on his special aircraft after being discharged.
The previous day, Dar met his Kyrgyz counterpart in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting. During this meeting, Dar urged swift action against those involved in the attacks on Pakistani students.
The discussions focused on the recent developments in Bishkek and the welfare of Pakistani nationals. Dar emphasized the security and well-being of Pakistani students, sharing their feelings of insecurity and requesting measures to ensure their safety. Kulubaev assured him that the Kyrgyz government had taken swift action to restore order and would punish the perpetrators according to Kyrgyz law. He also reassured the safety of Pakistani nationals and full support for the safe repatriation of students wishing to return to Pakistan.
