Afghanistan summons Pakistani envoy to protest 'mistreatment of diplomats'

Afghanistan says its officials, traveling in their official vehicle were stopped and searched which was against norms.

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Wednesday summoned the Pakistani Charge d'affairs in Kabul to the Foreign Ministry and lodged strong protest with him over "mistreatment" of diplomats linked with the Afghan consulate in Peshawar.

The Afghan Foreign Ministry said that Pakistani authorities allegedly "stopped and searched the vehicles" belonging to the Afghan consulate in Peshawar.

A suicide car bomb attack aimed at DG Frontier Corps killed five people on Tuesday and led to heightened security alert across the city.

"The Pakistani Charge d'affairs, Syed Muzam Shah was summoned told that the diplomats, who had been in the consulate vehicle, were forced to come out of the official car.

According to a statement released by the Afghan foreign office late on Wednesday, Shah was told that treatment of Afghan diplomats was against diplomatic norms, Vienna Convention and the spirit of good neighbourly relations.

The statement added that Afghanistan wanted an immediate inquiry into the incident as any such act could have "negative impact on friendly bilateral relations.”

For his part, the Pakistani diplomat assured that he would convey Afghan concerns to the concerned officials.