Pakistan consulate in Germany vandalised

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned an attack by a gang of extremists on its consulate in Germany’s Frankfurt and the failure of the German authorities to protect the sanctity and security of the premises of its consular mission.

The Foreign Office’s statement comes a day after a group of Afghan nationals vandalised and attacked the Pakistani consulate, pelting stones at the building and removing the country’s flag.

Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned Germany s senior most diplomat to register a strong protest over an attack by a gang of extremists a day earlier on the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt.

Reports indicate that the Afghan nationals were allowed to hold a peaceful protest by German authorities but they turned violent and threw stones at the consulate building leading to heightened tensions.

German police have detained two Afghan nationals and anticipate more arrests as they continue to identify additional protesters with the help of video footage.

The FO statement said that the responsibility to protect the premises and ensure the security of diplomats falls under the host government under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.

“We are conveying our strong protest to the German government and urge to take immediate measures to fulfil its responsibilities under the Vienna Conventions,” the Foreign Office said.

Pakistan also sought 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 media reports, the situation has drawn significant attention among the international communities, raising concerns about the diplomatic security of the installations.

However, the officials have been assured of a thorough investigation by the German authorities in Frankfurt.

They have also arrested several people who are being investigated after the video went viral.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has asked whether Afghans should be hosted after the incident in Germany.

In a special conversation with Geo News, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif termed the Afghans thankless and said that Pakistan is hosting 4 million Afghans even now.

Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan fought a war with Russia for Afghans and is now fighting against terrorism.

Minister for Information while talking in a press conference about Saturday’s attack on the Pakistani consulate in Germany’s Frankfurt, the information minister said that the Foreign Office had recorded a protest with the German authorities.

“They have told them to ensure the Pakistani mission’s security and action be taken against those responsible for the security lapse,” he added.

Tarar added that the National Database and Registration Authority’s (Nadra) chairman has been tasked to review the attack’s footage and check whether any Pakistani citizen was involved or was just one nation’s people who attacked.

“This is unacceptable; we wrap our martyr’s bodies in this flag,” the federal minister said, adding that Pakistan Army’s officers were martyred more compared to other countries.

Tarar said that if any Pakistani were found to be involved, as the PTI founder incites people to resort to violence, then their ID card and passport would be blocked and strict action would be taken.

“Khan sahib will not be able to save them,” Tarar warned, noting that no matter how many cases are overturned or decided in PTI’s favour, Imran will never be able to “prove his innocence”.