The Bishkek Mob Attack: A Crisis for Pakistani Students



 Islamabad, Pakistan

Over 300 Pakistani students have returned home from Kyrgyzstan following the violence that saw a mob attack hostels of foreign students, leaving some of them injured in the capital city of Bishkek.

The Incident of Kyrgyzstan

The violence erupted late on May 17 and lasted for over six hours, as hundreds of Kyrgyz people targeted hostels of international students, resulting in more than 30 injuries. During a news conference on Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar assured that the situation was under control. He confirmed that "four or five" Pakistani students were injured but refuted online rumors of any deaths.

Despite these assurances, Dar acknowledged the concerns of the more than 11,000 Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan and their families. He announced that the government was arranging flights to bring back all students who wanted to return, with the government bearing the expenses. However, Pakistani students in Bishkek claimed they had to pay out of pocket for their tickets back.


What Happened on the Night of May 17?

Korish Malik, a 24-year-old Pakistani medical student in Bishkek, recounted that he was in his hostel when the administration advised students to stay indoors due to a potential threat. Malik and his fellow students saw on TikTok that a large group of locals was gathering and marching towards their hostel.

According to Kyrgyz media, a crowd of over 700 people gathered outside the VIP Hostel, housing more than 800 international students, including Pakistanis, Indians, Egyptians, and Bangladeshis. Bilal Ishaq, a Pakistani medical student from Faisalabad, who lives near the VIP Hostel, also received alerts on WhatsApp to stay indoors. He witnessed a crowd chanting slogans and moving towards the hostel.

Despite the police presence at the hostel, the mob was too large to control. Korish Malik described how the mob entered the hostel from the emergency exit, engaging in vandalism. Videos on social media showed people hurling stones at the windows and breaking doors. Malik and his roommates hid in their room for almost six to eight hours, hearing loud noises from other floors.


What Triggered the Attack?

The violence on May 17 followed a brawl between Kyrgyz locals and a group of international students four days earlier. Hassan Aryani, a Pakistani student, said the videos of the fight went viral, creating an "uneasy calm" among students in Bishkek until it exploded into mob violence on May 17.

International Responses

The embassies of India and Pakistan in Bishkek advised students to stay indoors. On May 18, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his concern over the situation of Pakistani students in Bishkek. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also urged Indian students to stay in contact with their embassy. The Kyrgyz government stated on May 18 that calm had returned to the capital.

Current Situation in Bishkek

Aryani, a final-year student, said Bishkek seemed to be returning to normal, but he planned to fly back to Pakistan as soon as possible. Korish Malik managed to step out on Monday and move around the city but intended to return to Pakistan to alleviate his parents’ concerns.

The Kyrgyz authorities allowed foreign students to attend classes online for a week. This announcement influenced students like Malik to decide to return home. Malik bought a ticket to leave the following day.

Student Complaints and Government Response

While the Pakistani embassy in Kyrgyzstan claimed to be in close contact with local authorities, several students accused the government of abandoning them. Despite the foreign minister's promise that the government would cover travel costs, students reported having to pay for their tickets. It remains unclear if the government will reimburse these expenses.

The Kyrgyz government stated that those involved in the violence had been arrested and it was communicating with foreign governments affected by the incident. They urged media and foreign diplomatic missions not to spread false information.

Pakistani Students in Kyrgyzstan

More than 11,000 Pakistani students are studying medicine in Kyrgyzstan. The appeal lies in the high standards of Soviet-era medical colleges and lower tuition fees compared to Western institutions and even their home countries. Kyrgyz medical colleges are also popular among students from several Arab and African nations.

Bilal Ishaq, the student from Faisalabad, noted that while a medical degree in Pakistan could cost nearly eight to nine million rupees ($28,000 to $32,000), the cost in Kyrgyzstan is closer to four to five million rupees ($14,000 to $18,000). However, with the devaluation of the Pakistani currency, even studying in Kyrgyzstan is becoming more expensive. The Pakistani rupee has depreciated significantly from 160 against the US dollar in December 2020 to 278 rupees a dollar.

Pakistani Students Return Home from Bishkek

 A special flight from Bishkek, the captial of Kyrgyzstan arrived at the Quetta airport with Pakistani students. The Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-6264, with 172 students from Bishkek flew to Quetta.
Reports reveal that 92 of the students are from other provinces 80 of them are from Balochistan province. When the kids returned home, the province’s administrative head, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, along with other associated individuals, welcomed them. Also there were student families at the airport.
However, it is worth to mention that 290 students of Kyrgyzstan were flown in on a special flight and reached Bacha Khan Airport, Peshawar two days ago.

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