ISLAMABAD (National Times) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has
said that situation in Kyrgyzstan has returned to normalcy and those behind violence have been arrested.
Addressing a press conference, Dar said he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Astana – the capital of Kazakhstan – on Tuesday, where he held a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubayev.
Kyrgyz administration gave detailed briefing on violence, he stated. Situation has returned to normalcy in Bishkek. An unexpected clash had taken place in which not only Pakistani students were attacked but also students of several countries were injured.
He said he visited . hospital along with deputy prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, I went to hospital to inquire about health of Pakistani students who were under treatment therein. When we reached hospital we came to know that only one Pakistani student was under treatment therein. Two among three injured students have been discharged.
I talked to foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan with reference to Pakistani students, Dar said.
Foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan told to him action will be taken against those found responsible. He assured there is nothing to worry about. President of Kyrgyzstan has taken serious notice of Bishkek. riots. The responsibility was fixed in connection with riots and those found involved were arrested.
He held questions are being raised on the education of those students who go to Kyrgyzstan to attain medical education. Education related matters of those students who have returned to Pakistan are under consideration.
The Foreign Minister said during his meeting, he also requested the Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister to regularize their stay instead of deporting them and he agreed to my proposal.
He said the Kyrgyz authorities informed that the riots were not Pakistan-specific and students hailing from other countries including Bangladesh, India and some Arab countries were also targeted.
Ishaq Dar said the Kyrgyz authorities assured him that they have zero-tolerance towards violent incidents and also have rounded up scores of people involved in these riots.
Foreign Minister held Kyrgyzstan has a huge potential to accommodate Pakistani skilled workforce and the government will take all out measures to export Pakistani human capital there.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has constituted an inquiry committee to probe into the factors and causes that led to mob attacks on Pakistani students at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
