THE state needs to seek serious answers from the German authorities regarding the July 20 mob attack targeting Pakistan’s consulate in Frankfurt. A crowd of around 400 protesters — some holding aloft tricolour Afghan flags used before the Taliban takeover — had descended on the consulate in the German city. Later, protesters stormed the premises, “endangering the lives of ... consular staff”, as per the Foreign Office. There were also reports of protesters trying to remove the Pakistani flag and pelting the mission with stones. German state media has said the demonstrators were highlighting “complaints” against Pakistan’s defence institutions. As the government has pointed out, under the relevant Vienna Conventions, it is the responsibility of the host government to protect foreign missions on their soil. If, for example, a foreign mission had been stormed in Pakistan, all hell would have broken loose, and Pakistan would have been derided for its ‘poor’ security protocols. Therefore, the German authorities need to explain how a mob of hundreds was able to descend on a foreign mission and storm it relatively unhindered. They must also ensure that such ugly attacks, which endanger lives, are not repeated.

Segments within Afghan society have for decades harboured an anti-Pakistan bias, and it is likely the protesters were inspired by them. Pak-Afghan relations have been testy since independence — Afghanistan voted against Pakistan’s entry to the UN — while matters have turned more complicated over the years as Afghanistan has suffered from internal unrest, foreign invasions, insurgencies and terrorism. There is little doubt that Pakistan’s own record vis-à-vis Afghanistan has hardly been stellar. Past mistakes and flawed policies must be acknowledged and avoided. Moreover, Pakistan should never again allow itself to be sucked into the proxy war of global powers. The legacy of war, following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, left Pakistan with millions of Afghans on its soil. Each new conflict has compounded the issue. Aggressive international diplomacy is now needed by Pakistan to address the problem of refugees as well as to improve ties with Kabul — in the latter case, through a frank discussion about the past and present and the need for both sides to cooperate to contain violence. Unfortunately, a long history of hate and mistrust — which underpins both Pakistan’s ties with Kabul and the violence of the (anti-Taliban) protesters in Frankfurt — will be difficult to overcome.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024