The Indian Embassy at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan has advised students from India to stay indoors and get in touch with the Embassy in case of any issue. This advisory was posted amid reports of attacks against foreign students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
The Mission also stated that the situation was “presently calm” and that it is in touch with the Indian students.
We are in touch with our students. The situation is presently calm but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment and get in touch with the Embassy in case of any issue. Our 24×7 contact number is 0555710041.
— India in Kyrgyz Republic (@IndiaInKyrgyz) May 18, 2024
Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar also said that the Ministry was “Monitoring the welfare of Indian students in Bishkek”. Strongly advise students to stay in regular touch with the Embassy, he added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Government of Kyrgyzstan, has issued a press release where it assured that the situation in the city of Bishkek was under control. It informed that the Police, along with the regional department of Internal Affairs, internal troops and other law enforcement agencies, were working intensively to restore order in the Capital city.
The Pakistan Embassy, Kyrgyzstan in a Public Notice on Facebook stated that there had been a number of incidents of mob violence against foreign students in Bishkek. The Embassy stated that the violence appears to be directed against all foreign students and not specific to Pakistanis.
“According to the Kyrgyz press, the matter boiled over yesterday due to sharing online of videos of a fight between Kyrgyz students and medical students from Egypt on 13th of May,” the Embassy said.
The Pakistan Mission also informed that “a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis have been attacked” adding that the hostels were inhabited by students from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Embassy also said that there had been reports of light injuries to a number of students from Pakistan.
“Despite social media posts about alleged death and rape of Pakistani students, so far, we have not received any confirmed report,” it stated.
The Pakistani Mission in Kyrgyzstan too has issued an Advisory for Pakistani students asking them to stay indoors until the situation returns to normal.
