Dr. Naveed Elahi
A group of Afghan national extremists attacked and vandalised the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt, Germany (20.7.24) They pelted stones at the Consulate building and removed the country’s flag. The video clips on social media show that the consulate was undefended, and police did not reach the spot to control the assailants. It sparked significant outrage on social media platforms. The Foreign Office of Pakistan expressed strong condemnation of this attack by Afghan nationals on the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt. It highlighted the breach of security that endangered the lives of consular staff and reminded the German government of its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, to protect diplomatic premises and ensure the safety of diplomats.
The Pakistani authorities have demanded that the German government take swift actions to bolster security for Pakistani diplomatic missions and personnel. They also called for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack, alongside holding accountable those responsible for the security lapses.
This episode is part of a pattern of hostility exhibited by some Afghan nationals towards Pakistan in neutral venues, similar to the tensions observed during the Asia Cup in Sharjah in 2019, where clashes occurred between Pakistani and Afghan cricket fans following a close match.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions and the need for stringent security measures to protect diplomatic missions, ensuring such diplomatic breaches do not recur. This situation also highlights the broader geopolitical strains between Afghan nationals and Pakistan, reflecting underlying political and social tensions.
Pakistan should summon the Afghan diplomat in Islamabad to protest over this incident and ask him to provide the identification details of the attackers. Meanwhile dialogues with the Afghan government to address the root causes of hostility and ensure that both nations work collaboratively towards mitigating tensions.
The increasing threats require security audit of Pakistan’s missions abroad and should work closely with host countries where its consulates and embassies are located to ensure that these diplomatic missions are adequately protected according to international law, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. This might involve requesting increased security patrols or assistance during periods of heightened tension.
Two million Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan and thousands of students are studying here. It would be wise to engage directly with Afghan communities both within Pakistan and abroad to foster better mutual understanding and dispel misconceptions.
Media ought to be used effectively to communicate Pakistan’s stance and actions taken to ensure the safety and rights of Afghan nationals within its borders, thereby reducing grievances. Promote narratives that strengthen ties and emphasize shared cultural and historical bonds.
At the same time the culprits involved in such incidents must be handled befittingly. They should be identified and if they are residents of Pakistan or holding Pakistani travel documents necessary legal action should be taken against them. Police case should be registered in Pakistan too. Furthermore, it should be ensured that legal measures are in place to deal swiftly and fairly with incidents involving violence or hostility towards Pakistani missions or citizens, in coordination with local authorities in host countries.
It is also important to develop a mechanism to monitor and analyze incidents of hostility to better understand their nature and the factors driving them. This data can inform more targeted interventions.
These strategies, when combined, could help mitigate the hostility from Afghan nationals and improve the bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, contributing to a more stable regional environment.
