Indian and Pakistani Embassies Advise Nationals to Stay Indoors Amid Mob Violence in Kyrgyzstan
“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,” the Indian Embassy stated.
The Indian mission in Kyrgyzstan has issued a warning to its nationals, advising them to stay indoors following reports of large-scale mob violence directed against international students in the Central Asian country.
“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,” the Indian Embassy stated. They also provided a 24/7 helpline number for emergencies: 0555710041. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for students to remain in regular contact with the embassy, saying, “Monitoring the welfare of Indian students in Bishkek. The situation is reportedly calm now. Strongly advise students to stay in regular touch with the Embassy.”
The violence reportedly began following a clash on May 13 between local residents and international students at a hostel in Bishkek. According to local media, large numbers of protesters gathered, blocking traffic and vandalizing buildings. Security forces have since made several arrests.
Kyrgyzstan is a popular destination for international education, particularly in the medical field, attracting many students from the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. As of April 2023, approximately 9,500 students from these regions were enrolled in various medical universities in Kyrgyzstan.
The Pakistani embassy in Bishkek has also issued an advisory for its nationals and other international students amid the unrest. The embassy reported incidents of violence following the circulation of videos showing a fight between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students on May 13. Several hostels housing international students, including Pakistanis, were targeted, resulting in minor injuries to some Pakistani students. The embassy has advised Pakistani students to stay indoors until the situation stabilizes and has established contact with over 250 students and their families in Pakistan. They reiterated that the violence is targeting all foreign students and is not specific to Pakistanis.
Despite social media claims that three Pakistani students were killed, the Pakistani government has not confirmed any deaths. The Pakistani embassy in Kyrgyzstan stated, "So far, a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students, including Pakistanis, have been attacked. There have been reports of light injuries to several students from Pakistan. Despite social media posts about alleged death and rape of Pakistani students, so far, we have not received any confirmed report."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed concern over the attacks and directed Pakistan's Ambassador to provide all necessary assistance.
As the situation continues to unfold, both Indian and Pakistani embassies are closely monitoring the welfare of their nationals and advising them to remain safe indoors. For the latest updates, affected students are encouraged to stay in contact with their respective embassies.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.