Islamabad seeks action on Frankfurt ‘vandalism’

• Picture shows intruders holding Afghan tri-colour removing Pakistani flag from mast outside consulate
ISLAMABAD: After several individuals, said to be Afghan nationals, vandalised the Pakistani consulate in Frankfurt, Islamabad urged Germany to take immediate measures to prosecute those involved and hold to account those responsible for the security lapse. The videos show three men — one of whom is seen clutching an Afghan flag — climbing a flagpole to remove the Pakistani flag. Some reports also indicated that the protesters pelted the consulate building with rocks.
In light of the incident, Islamabad called out the German authorities for their failure to protect 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,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said. “We are conveying our strong protest to the German government,” said the statement, urging Berlin to take immediate measures to fulfil its responsibilities under the Vienna Conventions and ensure the security of the 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,” the statement added.
The Pakistani embassy in Germany also condemned the reprehensible act at the Pakistan Consulate General in Frankfurt by miscreants on July 20, 2024. According to the Pakis­tani mission, the incident occurred on July 20, when a “gang of extremists” atta­cked the consulate and “endangered” the lives of the consular staff on the premises. In a video of the incident which went viral online, scores of protesters carrying placards could be seen gathered outside the consulate. The videos show three men — one of whom is seen clutching an Afghan flag — climbing a flagpole to remove the Pakistani flag. Some reports also indicated that the protesters pelted the consulate building with rocks.In light of the incident, Islamabad called out the German authorities for their failure to protect 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,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said.
Source:.dawn.com/