Pakistan strongly condemned the attack by a group of extremists on the Frankfurt consulate, Germany, on July 20. South Asia’s largest Muslim-populated and nuclear state also criticized the German authorities for failing to protect the sanctity and security of the consular premises.

Pakistan condemns the extremist attack on its consulate in Frankfurt, urging Germany to protect consular premises under the Vienna Convention.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement “Under the Vienna Convention 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”. “We also urge the German authorities to take immediate measures to arrest and prosecute those involved in yesterday’s incident and hold accountable those responsible for the lapses in security,” she said.

The statement emphasized that “the security breach at Pakistan’s consulate in Frankfurt endangered the lives of its consular staff”. It also added, “We are conveying our strong protest to the German Government”. On Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned Germany’s ambassador to Islamabad, Alfred Grannas, to express concerns over an attack on its Frankfurt consulate by what it described as a “gang of extremists.”

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif orders NADRA to identify the attackers using photographs.

According to various media reports, the attackers were reportedly Afghan nationals who pelted the consulate with stones during their protest. There are reports that they also tried burning the Pakistani flag. From the pictures, it is evident that most of the protesters outside the Pakistani consulate were holding Afghan flags. According to German media, the demonstration aimed to spotlight grievances against Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.

It further stated that “During the protest, a small group of men forcibly entered the consulate grounds and threw stones at the building. A video on social media showed individuals climbing a pole to remove the Pakistani flag. Police, who were present with the protesters, intervened by removing several individuals from the premises and dispersing the crowd. Frankfurt police have stated that the State Security division is investigating the incident”.

Attackers, reportedly Afghan nationals, protested against Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, taking strict notice of the incident, has directed the Chairman of NADRA to trace the individuals involved using photographs. He also emphasized that the German authorities should be supported in this effort. According to sources, the German authorities have arrested several protesters. The situation has drawn significant attention from the global community, raising concerns about the security of diplomatic venues.

The majority of Afghan refugees living in Germany have previously resettled from Pakistan. Pakistan remains the world’s largest host country for Afghan refugees, with an estimated 4 million Afghans currently residing there. Although they hold Pakistani identity papers, many still express animosity towards Pakistan when given the opportunity.

Several protesters were arrested by German authorities following the incident.

The ongoing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan is influenced by various factors, including Pakistan’s deportation of millions of undocumented Afghan residents. Official data indicates that approximately 600,000 Afghans have returned to their country so far. However, the deportation process has been halted for one year following intervention from other countries, including the United Nations.

Muhammed Asif Khawaja, Pakistan‘s Defence Minister remarked that Pakistan must reconsider its approach to hosting Afghan nationals. He emphasized that despite Pakistan’s extensive support and sacrifices—including its involvement in conflicts on behalf of Afghanistan—there remains a deep-seated resentment from the Afghan population.

The attack underscores the need for stronger diplomatic security measures globally.

Asif suggested that the ongoing tension and dissatisfaction might require Pakistan to reevaluate its policies and strategies regarding Afghan refugees and its broader relationship with Afghanistan. It is reported that Afghan refugees living in Germany protested outside the Pakistani consulate following the death of Pashto poet Gilaman Wazir in Islamabad.

Gilaman Wazir, whose real name was Hazrat Naeem, was a prominent leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). He was attacked by unknown gunmen in Islamabad on July 7 and succumbed to head injuries on 11 July. A case has been registered to investigate the incident. Former Afghan Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, among others, offered their condolences for Wazir’s killing through their tweets.