Unrest in Kyrgyzstan: What sparked the attacks on hostels housing Indian, Pakistani students?

Amid mob violence against international students in Kyrgyzstan, India, and Pakistan have issued advisories to students, asking them to stay home.

Hours after the countries' advisories, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic released a statement saying that "destructive forces are deliberately disseminating untrue and false information about the situation in the Kyrgyz Republic in foreign mass media and social networks, especially in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan."

For the past several days, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, has been in turmoil as violent mobs have targeted dormitories that house students from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.

But what led to this targeted mob attack on Indian and Pakistani students?

According to local reports, a scuffle between locals and foreign students, including Pakistanis and Egyptians at a dormitory caused the violence to break out. The altercation, which is said to have taken place on May 13, was captured on camera, and thevideo went viral on social media.

On May 16, international students were singled out and attacked, making the situation worse. After the incident, crowds began to attack foreign students, especially those from Pakistan and India. Locals attacked the students despite their cries for aid.

An Indian citizen contacted the Indian embassy late on Friday night, telling the official that they were in desperate need of assistance and protection. At least 14 Pakistani students are said to have been injured in the attacks.

According to the Times of Central Asia, locals began gathering on the streets on Friday to protest the alleged lenient treatment of foreigners engaged in the conflict. According to authorities, three foreigners were held on suspicion of hooliganism.

Mobs attacked the dorms of medical universities that housed students from Bangladesh, Pakistan. According to Pakistan's Aaj News, women students were harassed and many were hurt.

The Pakistani Embassy in Bishkek, however, advised its students to "stay indoors until the situation returns to normal" and stated that it has not yet received any information of any deaths.

"A few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students, including Pakistanis, have been attacked. There have been reports of light injuries to a number of students from Pakistan," the Pakistan embassy said.

"Despite social media posts about the alleged death and rape of Pakistani students, so far, we have not received any confirmed reports," it added.

S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, claimed that things were "calm" in Bishkek and suggested that students maintain continuous communication with the Indian embassy. "The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment," he tweeted.