Recently arrived in Pakistan from Bishkek, a group of Pakistani students has broken their silence, shedding light on the alarming situation they faced in Kyrgyzstan’s capital. Their testimonies paint a starkly different picture from the controlled narrative presented by local authorities, revealing a climate of fear and violence.
The students, who endured a harrowing ordeal, reported that the situation in Bishkek is far from under control. They described how the unrest began on the 13th of the month when Egyptian students got into a brawl with local youths. This incident, captured on video and subsequently leaked, sparked a planned and coordinated attack by local residents.
According to the students, locals, armed and organized, launched a series of assaults targeting not only Pakistani students but also Indian and Bangladeshi nationals. “The police were complicit,” one student claimed, “directing the attackers to our hostels.” The scenes that followed were terrifying, with hostels being stormed and even female students subjected to violence.
The students emphasized that Bishkek is anything but normal at present. The aggression extended beyond educational institutions, with local mobs attacking factory workers in the vicinity. “It’s unsafe to even take a local taxi,” one student lamented, detailing how they had to rely on trusted individuals to safely reach the airport.
The fear of further violence loomed large, with students noting that plans for more gatherings and attacks were still being discussed among locals. The situation was exacerbated by many students’ passports being held up for visa renewals, adding to their vulnerability. “Even familiar locals can’t be trusted anymore,” they said, highlighting the pervasive sense of betrayal and insecurity.