Taliban urge Pakistan to 'arrest, punish' those involved in envoy daughter 'abduction'

Suhail Shaheen says arresting those responsible will ensure 'spoilers don’t have ground to misuse' the incident

The Afghan Taliban have urged Pakistan to "arrest and punish the perpetrators" involved in the reported abduction of the Afghan envoy's daughter so that "spoilers don’t have ground to misuse" the incident.

Selsela Alikhil, the daughter of Najibullah Alikhil, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, was allegedly kidnapped and held for several hours by unknown assailants who left her with injuries and rope marks.

Suhail Shaheen, the official political office spokesman for international media, also condemned the incident in a tweet.

He added that Islamabad needs to "step up efforts" to arrest and punish those responsible so that such acts do not "give rise to hate between the two nations".

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The kidnapping of an Afghan girl in Pakistan is against humanity and an aggression which we condemn. We urge the government of Pakistan to step up its efforts to arrest and punish the perpetrators so that such acts do not give rise to hate between the two nations

— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) July 18, 2021

Pakistan authorities are currently investigating the reported abduction with Prime Minister Imran Khan issuing special directions to the interior minister for finding and punishing the culprits.

Read: Kabul recalls envoy over ‘security threats’

Following the incident, the Afghan government has also decided to withdraw its ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan, a move that Islamabad termed as "unfortunate and regrettable".

“The Afghan government recalled the ambassador and senior diplomats to Kabul until the complete elimination of the security threats, including the arrest and punishment of the perpetrators,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.

But Pakistan expressed disappointment over the Afghan government's move. "The decision by the Government of Afghanistan to recall its ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan is unfortunate and regrettable," read an official statement issued by the foreign office.

"The reported abduction and assault of the ambassador's daughter in Islamabad is being investigated and followed up at the highest level on the instructions of the prime minister.

“The security of the ambassador, his family and personnel of the embassy and consulates of Afghanistan in Pakistan has been further beefed up,” said the statement.