Following a mob attack on Indian and Pakistani students in Kyrgyz university hostels in Bishkek, India advised students in Kyrgyzstan to “stay indoors.” However, the Central Asian country’s foreign ministry later declared that the “situation in Bishkek is calm and under full control.”
The Kyrgyzstan ministry stated that “destructive forces are deliberately disseminating untrue and false information about the situation in the country in foreign media outlets and social networks, particularly in Pakistan,” while assuring that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure security, peace, and stability.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic informs that destructive forces are deliberately disseminating untrue and false information about the situation in the Kyrgyz Republic in foreign mass media and social networks, especially in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the foreign ministry of Kyrgyzstan said in a statement.
“The Ministry informs that the situation in the city of Bishkek of the Kyrgyz Republic is calm and under full control, and all necessary measures have been taken to ensure security, maintain peace and stability,” it stated.
The May 13 altercation between native Kyrgyzstani students and Egyptian and Arab students was the catalyst for the escalation of violence. According to reports, a student from Kyrgyzstan was hurt in this incident.
On May 16, when foreign students were singled out and subsequently attacked, things got worse. After this incident, crowds began to target foreign students, especially those from Pakistan and India. The kids were being attacked by groups of locals while they were yelling for aid and begging to leave.
When the Indian embassy received a phone late on Friday night, one of its citizens informed the representative that they urgently needed assistance and security. At least 14 Pakistani students are said to have been injured in the attacks.
India said ‘monitoring the situation in Bishkek’
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is monitoring Bishkek’s situation amid Kyrgyzstan-related violence, advising students to maintain regular contact with the embassy and monitor the welfare of Indian students.
“We maintain communication with our pupils. Although everything is under control at the moment, students are encouraged to stay indoors for the time being and contact the Embassy if they have any concerns. 0555710041 is our 24-hour phone number,” the Indian embassy in Kyrgyzstan said on X.
Pakistan PM expresses concern
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the country’s Ambassador to assist affected students in Kyrgyz, stating that hospitals and private residences of international students were attacked. The Pakistani embassy is monitoring the situation.
Up to 8,000–10,000 students from India and over 11,000 students from Pakistan are studying medicine in Kyrgyzstan.