Kyrgyzstan Trip
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed on Sunday that his planned trip to Kyrgyzstan to assess the aftermath of violent attacks on foreign students, including Pakistanis, was called off at the Kyrgyz government’s request.
Dar, accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Frontier Regions and National Heritage and Culture Minister Amir Muqam, had intended to assure the affected students of assistance.
The Kyrgyz authorities urged Dar to trust their handling of the situation and advised against the arrival of senior ministers, fearing political exploitation by opposition parties.
Consequently, the trip was shelved, and instead, two additional staff members from the Foreign Office were dispatched to Kyrgyzstan to provide necessary support and verify the situation.
The Kyrgyz government’s seriousness was underscored by its cancellation of the Pakistani ambassador’s leave, as per Dar’s remarks.
In addition to addressing the students’ concerns, Dar announced the return of 540 Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan on government-operated commercial flights, supplementing the 130 students who had already arrived in Lahore the previous night.
The Foreign Minister assured the provision of an Air Force-operated flight capable of carrying 130 students if required, potentially increasing the total number of returning students to 830.
While the situation in Kyrgyzstan was described as under control, the government remained vigilant, deploying additional staff from missions in neighboring countries to bolster the embassy’s efforts.
This decision aimed to ensure adequate assistance and facilities for affected students, signaling the government’s commitment to their welfare.
Meanwhile, Pakistani students returning from Kyrgyzstan shared harrowing accounts of the violence they endured, highlighting the urgency of their repatriation.
Despite reassurances from Kyrgyz authorities, students expressed skepticism about the situation’s normalization and criticized the embassy’s response to their plight.
As efforts to facilitate the safe return of Pakistani students intensify, the government continues to liaise with Kyrgyz authorities and bolster diplomatic efforts to address the evolving situation.
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