No casualties among Pakistani students in Bishkek mob violence, confirms Kyrgyz government

BISHKEK: Violent clashes have erupted between international students and locals in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, with reports of attackers using batons which allegedly killed Pakistani students among other international students.

Several accounts on social media claimed that three Pakistani students had been killed in the incidents. Advisor for Information in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Saif also claimed casualties of three Pakistani students in the mob violence.

However, the Pakistani embassy citing the Kyrgyzstan government said that there has been no death of Pakistani students in the recent mob violence against international students. “There have been reports of light injuries to several students from Pakistan,” it added.

Moreover, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs has also issued press releases stating that the situation is under control.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan also commented on the violence against foreign citizens, noting that the law enforcement agencies took prompt measures to detain persons involved in the event, both foreign citizens and citizens of Kyrgyzstan. “The situation was completely under the control of the security forces. The safety of citizens and public order were ensured,” it said. “There are no seriously injured people among participants of the incident.”

According to Pakistan’s Embassy in Bishkek, foreign students living in Bishkek including those from Pakistan, were attacked by locals late Friday night in the aftermath of their brawl with Egyptian nationals on May 13.

“In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advises all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation returns to normal. We are liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure the safety of our student fraternity,” the ambassador said on X.

The Pakistani ambassador said, “We are taking steps to ensure the safety of the students.”

In a separate statement, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the Pakistan Embassy has opened emergency helplines & is responding to queries of students & their families.

“Ambassador Hasan Zaigham has been in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities,” she said on X. “Four Pakistanis were provided first aid and discharged while one is under treatment for jaw injury.”

More than 100 locals gathered in Bishkek streets on the evening of May 18, who wanted to take revenge on the foreigners who beat up local residents.

According to the Pakistani embassy, some hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis were attacked. The hostels are inhabited by students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Videos of clashes went viral on social media.

In a viral social media video, three students appear and one of them introducing himself as Mohammad Walid says that after a fight between locals and Egyptian students, mobs attacked international students. Walid reported that six students had died, although he did not name their nationalities.

According to him, cops were not assisting foreign students. Walid is one of the Pakistani students studying medicine in Kyrgyzstan.