Pakistan condemns attack on Kuwaiti consulate in Basra, terms it violation of diplomatic norms
Protesters gather outside the Kuwaiti consulate after rockets fired from the direction of Kuwait hit a house in Khor Al-Zubair, Basra, Iraq. Photo: Reuters
The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday condemned the storming and vandalism of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Basra, calling it “the violation of the sanctity of the consular premises”.
In a statement, the FO showed its deep concern over the incident that happened yesterday in Basra.
“Pakistan strongly condemns such acts, which are inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and international law, particularly the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” said the statement.
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Targeting of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Basra, Iraq https://t.co/Vu4iZvovxW pic.twitter.com/w3UKvPgpJhThe statement emphasised the importance of ensuring the security and inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and calls for a thorough investigation into the incident, as well as bringing those responsible for the incident to justice.
“Pakistan expresses its solidarity with the government and people of Kuwait and reaffirms its principled position on respect for diplomatic missions and adherence to international obligations."
On Tuesday, dozens of people protested in front of the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra.
It came after projectiles killed an eight-year-old child and at least six other people in Iraq on Tuesday, with one official saying that the strikes had been fired from Kuwait.
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An AFP photographer saw demonstrators attempt to storm the consular building, with security forces firing tear gas to disperse them.
Following the incident, Kuwait summoned Iraq’s envoy to the Gulf state and registered a protest over the incident.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry said in a statement it had delivered a note of protest to Iraq’s charge d’affaires over “acts of vandalism and destruction that targeted the Kuwaiti Consulate General in Basra”.
The ministry condemned the “storming and vandalism” of its consulate, calling it a serious breach of diplomatic norms. “Iraq is responsible for any failure to take the measures needed to protect diplomatic and consular missions on its territory,” the foreign ministry said.
The ministry said Kuwait was not party to any regional conflict and would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on any country.