India, as well as Pakistan, on Saturday advised students in Bishkek "to stay indoors" amid mob violence targeting international students erupted in Kyrgyzstan's capital city. While the Embassy of India in Kyrgyzstan said the "situation is presently calm", Pakistan's mission said a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, where students from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan reside, have been attacked amid the violence.
"We are in touch with our students. The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment and get in touch with the Embassy in case of any issue. Our 24—7 contact number is 0555710041," the Indian mission in Bishkek tweeted.
According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs, some 14,500 Indian students reside in Kyrgyzstan.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar retweeted the Embassy post, and said, "Monitoring the welfare of Indian students in Bishkek. Situation is reportedly calm now."
In its advisory posted on social media, Pakistan's Embassy in Bishkek said that the matter escalated after videos of a fight between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students on May 13 went viral online on Friday.
"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," it said.
"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 reports."
The Embassy further said that Pakistani students have been asked to "stay indoors until the situation returns to normal", adding that the violence appeared to be directed against all foreign students, and not just Pakistanis.
There are about 10,000 Pakistani students in the Central Asian nation currently.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham said authorities were liaising with local law enforcement in Bishkek to ensure the safety of students.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also expressed "deep concerns" over the situation in Bishkek, saying he has directed the country's envoy in Bishkek to "provide all necessary help and assistance" to the students.
Also taking to social media, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party posted several videos, in which a mob was seen walking and running on a road at night.
"Extremely disturbing reports coming in from Kyrgyzstan, where thousands of Pakistani students are under attack, with reports of violence and deaths," the party tweeted on Saturday and asked the Pakistan Foreign Office, the Embassy in Bishkek and the Foreign Ministry in Kyrgyzstan to "take immediate and effective measures to ensure safety of all Pakistani students".
Another video doing the rounds on social media shows a corridor inside a building which has been vandalised. The footage shows broken doors and glass shards on the floor.
Additional footage has emerged where a mob is seen dragging a person by the leg and then physically assaulting the individual. However, there was no official confirmation on the identity of the person being attacked.
The Kyrgyzstan government is yet to officially comment on the situation.
