Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that at least 4,036 Pakistani students will return from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, by Wednesday night.
Addressing the media after he visited Kyrgyzstan, Dar discussed recent mob attacks on international students, including Pakistanis.
On May 18, mobs attacked foreign students’ housing in Bishkek following a May 13 brawl between locals and Egyptian nationals.
Dar thanked his counterpart, Jeenbek Kulubaev, for arranging his immediate flight from Astana to Bishkek.
Dar declined an overnight stay in Bishkek to return to Islamabad and Tehran for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s funeral.
Dar reported that the Kyrgyz president stated, “I will not tolerate any such incident…foreign students and workers are valuable guests who contribute to our economy.”
Dar quoted the Kyrgyz president as saying, “If a similar incident occurs in the future, I will hold anyone accountable. They will face consequences.”
Many Pakistani students fled Kyrgyzstan after the May 18 riots. Dar updated that 3,233 students have returned so far, with 513 flown back on federal government-arranged flights and 290 on a special flight by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). By tonight, 4,036 students are expected to have returned.
Regarding Pakistani workers, FM Dar highlighted the situation of approximately 1,100 workers in Kyrgyzstan illegally. The Kyrgyz government may deport them. Dar requested the Kyrgyz government to regularize these workers, emphasizing their economic contribution and law-abiding nature.
Dar appreciated his Kyrgyz counterpart’s pledge to “honour the request” and reach out to relevant departments for approval.
