In a distressing turn of events, the city of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, witnessed appalling violence on the night of Friday, 17th May. Reports have emerged that foreign students, particularly Pakistani MBBS students, were subjected to brutal attacks by local mobs. Several informed sources indicated that these violent incidents resulted in the tragic deaths of four Pakistani students, while numerous others sustained severe injuries. This alarming situation has led the embassies of both India and Pakistan to issue urgent advisories to their citizens, strongly advising them to remain indoors. Despite these grave reports, both embassies have officially refuted claims concerning the alleged rapes and deaths among the Pakistani student community.

The origins of this violent outbreak trace back to an altercation that occurred on 13th May. It is understood that a fight ensued between Kyrgyz students and a group of medical students from Egypt, with some Pakistani students reportedly getting involved. This incident appears to have ignited the subsequent mob attacks specifically targeting Pakistani MBBS students. In the aftermath, social media platforms have been flooded with several distressing videos posted by purported Pakistani and foreign students. These videos provide harrowing accounts of the attacks, with victims alleging systematic assaults on their hostels. The mobs are accused of not only causing physical harm but also engaging in acts of sexual violence against Pakistani female students. The onslaught of violence reportedly persisted, with successive hostel attacks continuing into the early hours of Saturday morning.

In the wake of the targeted violence in Bishkek, it has not only been Pakistani students who have faced peril. Students from India, Bangladesh, and various other countries studying in Kyrgyzstan have also felt the threat of aggression. In response to the escalating situation, the Indian Embassy took immediate steps to ensure the safety of its nationals. An emergency contact number was promptly issued to assist Indian students in distress, accompanied by advisories urging them to stay indoors and maintain continuous communication with the embassy.

Further reinforcing the embassy's message, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has been actively involved in overseeing the safety of Indian nationals. Through social media, he communicated his direct engagement with the crisis, ensuring that the situation is being closely monitored. His tweet underscored the importance of staying vigilant and connected: "Monitoring the welfare of Indian students in Bishkek. Situation is reportedly calm now. Strongly advise students to stay in regular touch with the Embassy." This statement not only conveyed reassurance but also emphasized the ongoing need for caution and interaction with diplomatic representatives to ensure the safety of the students amidst the troubling circumstances.

Amidst these advisories and official communications, social media has played a significant role in disseminating information and raising awareness about the attacks. Users on platforms like Twitter, including @matincantweet, have shared distressing details and images from the scene, alleging fatalities and severe abuses during the attacks. These posts have contributed to the urgent calls for safety and the swift response from various embassies to protect their citizens.

As the situation in Bishkek became increasingly volatile, Pakistan's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham, took to social media to address the crisis directly affecting Pakistani students. On Saturday, he tweeted a crucial advisory for the safety of these students: "In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advise all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation return to normal." This guidance was aimed at ensuring the immediate safety of students as the events unfolded.

Further emphasizing the efforts to protect Pakistani students, Ambassador Zaigham informed that the embassy was actively coordinating with local law enforcement. "We are liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure the safety of our student fraternity," he added. This collaboration highlights the proactive steps taken by the Pakistani embassy to engage with Kyrgyz authorities to secure a safe environment for their nationals.

Additionally, the spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Office confirmed that the embassy had established lines of communication with Kyrgyz authorities and made emergency contact numbers available to Pakistani students. This measure was part of a broader effort to ensure that students could reach out for help and receive timely assistance during the crisis.

In a detailed statement, the Pakistani embassy in Bishkek shed light on the origins of the unrest, citing local media reports: "There have been a number of incidents of mob violence against foreign students in Bishkek since last evening. 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 the 13th of May." This explanation provided some context to the sudden escalation of violence, linking it to a specific incident that had exacerbated tensions in the area.

The Pakistani embassy in Bishkek provided further details on the scale of the attacks affecting the international student community. According to their statement, "So far, a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis have been attacked. The hostels are inhabited by students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh." This update highlighted the widespread nature of the violence, indicating that students from multiple nations were affected, underscoring the international dimension of the crisis.

Further clarification came from the embassy regarding the condition of the students affected by the unrest. "There have been reports of light injuries to a number of students from Pakistan. Despite social media posts about the alleged death and rape of Pakistani students, so far, we have not received any confirmed report." This part of the statement aimed to address the rumors and unverified information circulating on social media, providing a more measured and fact-based update on the situation.

Amidst these troubling reports, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has voiced his concern regarding the safety and wellbeing of Pakistani students in Bishkek. His engagement reflects the high level of attention the situation is receiving at the national level in Pakistan, highlighting the government's concern for its citizens abroad and its intent to ensure their safety through diplomatic channels. This expression of concern by the Prime Minister also serves to reassure the families of the students and the public that the situation is being taken seriously at the highest levels of government.

Foreign Students Under Threat

Recent events in Bishkek have been particularly harrowing for foreign students, especially those from Pakistan, who have found themselves in increasingly perilous situations. According to accounts provided by the students to local media, the violence has been both sudden and severe.

One Pakistani medical student shared a chilling experience, revealing how she narrowly escaped harm. She recounted how a violent mob stormed her hostel, assaulting several Pakistani students and causing extensive damage to the property. "The student said that a violent mob had entered her hostel and beat up several Pakistani students and also vandalised the hostel," her account detailed. She described her terror during the attack, saying she was "very scared" and managed to save herself by hiding in the washroom, where she cried and pleaded for help.

Another student provided a similarly distressing narrative. This student expressed a deep sense of insecurity and fear following the events. "A very bad thing happened to us. We don’t know whether we are safe or not," he said, recounting the terror they felt. He described a chaotic scene where a confrontation involving Pakistani students escalated into broader violence, resulting in many being beaten. Seeking refuge, he explained, "We saved our lives by hiding in the hostel, but we are fine. We are on the 6th floor. They have closed the doors of the apartments and are sitting there, not knowing whether we are safe or not." His plea was heartfelt and desperate: "Please send us to Pakistan."

These testimonies highlight the dire circumstances faced by Pakistani students in Bishkek, trapped and uncertain of their safety amid ongoing violence. The repeated requests for evacuation reflect the deep fear and distress among the students as they seek safety and reassurance from their home country amidst the chaos.

Pakistan is in a Sad State of Affairs!

The plight of Pakistani students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan has taken a dire turn, prompting vehement criticism of the Pakistani government's response from those directly affected. Amid the turmoil, many students have openly expressed their frustration with what they describe as the government's apathy towards their situation. They argue that if the students involved had been Indian, the response from the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Modi and Minister of External Affairs Dr. Jaishankar, would have been swift and decisive.

Amplifying these concerns, a Twitter user named Tareen Khan Anees, under the handle @anees_tareen, posted a detailed and scathing critique of the Pakistani government's handling of the crisis. He wrote, "Local mobs are hounding Pakistani students like animals in Kyrgyzstan. Hostels are being rampaged, students dragged out of their rooms and assaulted, and female students reportedly raped. Our Foreign Office is nowhere to be seen. There is a number provided by the office, but it has been unreachable since yesterday. Reports indicate that the Pakistani ambassador @hazaigham was informed about the situation and requested to put pressure on the government to provide security at the hostels, but he did nothing to protect the students. Feels like Pakistan is being run by headless chickens. The Asim-led junta has destroyed every government office. There are thousands of Pakistani nationals in Kyrgyzstan whose lives are at stake, with over five students already killed and many in critical condition. No help whatsoever has been provided by the Pakistani Foreign Office so far. The devastated state of Pakistan is evident as students in Kyrgyzstan are tagging renowned journalists in Pakistan instead of government departments and their heads. This shows a lack of trust in our own government and its departments. This is where they have brought Pakistan in these two years. #Kyrgyzstan #Bishkek #ڈر_گئے_خان_کی_جھلک_سے @amnestyusa @amnesty @AmnestyUK @amnestyOz @amnestysasia @UN_Women @UNHumanRights @hrw @UNHumanRights @AusHumanRights @OHCHRAsia @UN_HRC @mehdirhasan @PiersUncensored @piersmorgan @MoeedNj @soldierspeaks @ryangrim @ImranRiazKhan @nytimes @AJEnglish @CNN @BBCWorld @MIshaqDar50 @PakinKyrgyzstan."

Anees's tweet captures the palpable desperation and distress among the student community. His mention of the unresponsiveness of the provided emergency contact and the alleged inaction of the Pakistani ambassador, @hazaigham, illustrates a perceived breakdown in the protective duties owed to citizens abroad. The reference to Pakistan being "run by headless chickens" and the destruction of government efficiency under the "Asim-led junta" indicates profound disillusionment with the current leadership's ability to manage and respond to crises.

The extensive tagging of international human rights organizations, global media outlets, and prominent journalists underscores the students' attempts to draw international attention to their plight, highlighting a significant mistrust in national channels and a desperate appeal for global intervention. This approach reflects a strategic and poignant plea for help, aimed at soliciting support from beyond national borders to address the urgent and grave situation facing Pakistani nationals in Kyrgyzstan.

Controversial Responses Amid Crisis in Kyrgyzstan

The situation involving Pakistani students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, has sparked a significant controversy, particularly regarding the statements and actions of the Pakistani embassy in Kyrgyzstan. The embassy, under its official Twitter handle @PakinKyrgyzstan, issued a statement asserting that the crisis was under control. The tweet claimed, "Kyrgyz government has confirmed that there is no death of Pakistani student in the recent mob violences against international students. Moreover, the Kygyz Ministry of Internal Affairs has also issued press releases stating that the situation is under control."

This declaration by the Pakistani embassy was meant to reassure the public and the families of the students abroad. However, it was met with skepticism and outright disbelief by many, including Jehanzeb Paracha, a member of PTI UK SMT, who voiced his dismay and anger through his Twitter account @JehanzebParacha. In his response, he expressed his frustration and disbelief at the embassy's statement, saying, "I am speechless! After an agonising night, watching the horror unfold right in front of our eyes…. After a frightening and extremely worrying night for students and their parents… @PakinKyrgyzstan just came up with a press release issued by Kyrgyz govt stating 'no Pakistanis have died and all in control now.' How useless and shameless this government and officials have become under form 47 unelected criminals, is simply mind boggling! They have ZERO regard for Pakistani lives. https://x.com/pakinkyrgyzstan/status/1791682997676036563?s=46&t=qTKf4QhMKWiXznRMOcUSgQ… #Kyrgyzstan #SavePakistaniStudents"

Paracha's response underscores a deep-seated frustration with the perceived inaction and indifference of the Pakistani authorities. His use of strong language such as "useless," "shameless," and "ZERO regard for Pakistani lives" illustrates a profound distrust in the officials' commitment to protecting their citizens abroad. His mention of "form 47 unelected criminals" suggests a broader critique of the current governance structure, accusing it of neglecting its duties towards its nationals.

The sharp contrast between the embassy's reassurances and Paracha's vehement condemnation highlights the polarized perceptions of the situation. While the embassy sought to convey control and safety following the statements from Kyrgyz authorities, the critical voices like Paracha's paint a picture of negligence and mismanagement, suggesting that the reality on the ground may be far grimmer than official reports indicate. This disparity raises concerns about the transparency and efficacy of the responses to the crisis, as well as the safety and well-being of the Pakistani students who remain in a vulnerable and precarious situation abroad.