(CTN News) – Following the vandalism of the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt by numerous individuals claiming to be Afghan nationals, Islamabad urged Germany to take prompt action to punish those involved and hold those responsible for the security breach accountable.
According to the Pakistani mission, the incident occurred on July 20, when a “gang of extremists” attacked the embassy and “endangered” the lives of the diplomatic staff present.
A video of the incident went viral online, showing scores of demonstrators with placards gathered outside the consulate.
The films show three individuals, one of them is holding an Afghan flag, climbing a flagpole to remove the Pakistani flag. According to other reports, demonstrators pelted the consulate with rocks.
In light of the event, Islamabad chastised German officials for failing to maintain the “sanctity and security of the premises of its consular mission”.
“Under the Vienna Conventions on Consular Relations, 1963 it is the responsibility of the host government to protect the sanctity of the consular premises and ensure the security of diplomats,” according to a statement released by the foreign ministry.
“We are conveying our strong protest to the German government,” said the statement, urging Berlin to take urgent action to meet its obligations under the Vienna Conventions and safeguard the security of diplomatic missions and staff in Germany.
“We also urge the German authorities to take immediate measures to arrest and prosecute those involved in yesterday’s incident and hold to account those responsible for the lapses in security,” according to the statement.
The Pakistani embassy in Germany also denounced the heinous attack on the Pakistan Consulate General in Frankfurt on July 20, 2024.
“We are in contact with German authorities to ensure that such a situation does not occur again and that the perpetrators face legal consequences,” the embassy stated on its official X handle.
In a similar remark, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the Pakistani government has filed a strong protest with the German government.
“We have urged the German government to fulfill its responsibilities under the Vienna Conventions and ensure the security of Pakistan’s diplomatic missions and staff in Germany.” We have also pressed them to take quick action to arrest and punish individuals involved in yesterday’s tragedy, as well as hold those responsible for security failings accountable,” according to the statement.
In a press conference on Sunday, Information Minister Atta Tarar also announced that Nadra had been requested to examine video evidence from the event in Frankfurt to determine whether any Pakistanis were involved.
Though the Foreign Office did not specify the nationality of the miscreants, some of them were dressed in the tricolor Afghan flag. However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif lashed out at the Afghan nationals, stating that in light of this occurrence, Islamabad needed to reconsider its hospitality to Afghan individuals.
“There is a limit to hospitality. They swore at us and Pakistan. They speak out against Pakistan’s integrity. They conduct proper rallies [against Pakistan]. “They burn our flags,” he told Geo News, alleging that Pakistan has fought battles for Kabul. “I think Pakistan needs to rethink their hospitality,” he told me.
Pakistan has over 3 million Afghan refugees and recently initiated a deportation campaign to remove individuals who were living in the country without documentation. Earlier this month, however, Islamabad extended the stay of registered Afghan refugees by one year.
According to German media site DW, Saturday’s march aimed to highlight accusations against Pakistan’s military and intelligence services for executing critics and political opponents.
According to police, over 400 persons holding Afghanistan flags participated in the rally outside the consulate, and the State Security division was investigating some of their vandalism.
About ten days before this incident, primarily Afghan demonstrators apparently tied to a Pakistani political movement organized a demonstration outside the Pakistan High Commission in London’s Belgravia district.
Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the mission to demand justice for deceased Afghan poet Gilaman Wazir, who was stabbed to death in Islamabad.
A brawl broke out between demonstrators and passersby at the mission who screamed pro-Pakistan slogans. Met Police officers were on the site, attempting to defuse the situation. Protesters holding Afghan flags tossed shoes at the structure while chanting slogans.
Source: GEO TV
