Pakistan, India Urge Citizens in Kyrgyzstan to Stay Inside
May 18, 2024
Pakistan Warns Students After Violence
Pakistan and India have warned their citizens studying in Kyrgyzstan to stay indoors after several incidents of violence against Pakistani and Indian nationals. The Pakistani foreign ministry said on Saturday it had summoned and handed a note of protest to Kyrgyzstan's top diplomat in the country in response to the violence.
"We have asked our nationals to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel," a foreign ministry spokesman said. "We have also asked the Kyrgyz authorities to take all necessary steps to protect our citizens and their property."
The Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan also issued a similar warning, urging Indian citizens to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings. "We are aware of the incidents of violence and are monitoring the situation closely," an embassy spokesman said. "We urge Indian citizens to exercise caution and follow the instructions of local authorities."
The violence in Kyrgyzstan began on Thursday when a group of Kyrgyz nationalists attacked a hostel housing Pakistani and Indian students in the capital, Bishkek. Several students were injured in the attack, and one Pakistani student was killed.
The Kyrgyz government has condemned the violence and said it is investigating the incident. However, Pakistani and Indian officials have expressed concern that the Kyrgyz authorities are not doing enough to protect their citizens.
Khan is one of several Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan who gave harrowing accounts to RFERL of the violence. He said he was beaten by a group of Kyrgyz nationalists and that he saw other Pakistani students being injured.
"We are scared for our lives," Khan said. "We don't know what to do. We just want to go home."
Pakistan has asked the thousands of its nationals studying or working in Kyrgyzstan to stay indoors. The Pakistani embassy in Bishkek is also providing shelter to Pakistani nationals who have been displaced by the violence.
The violence in Kyrgyzstan is the latest in a series of incidents of violence against Pakistani and Indian nationals in the country. In 2021, a group of Kyrgyz nationalists attacked a bus carrying Indian tourists, injuring several people. In 2019, a Pakistani student was killed in a similar attack.
The Kyrgyz government has said it is committed to protecting all foreign nationals in the country. However, Pakistani and Indian officials have said that more needs to be done to prevent further violence.
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