Pakistan summons Afghan chargé d'affaires over killing of five traders

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped nine Pakistani traders two months ago, killing five of them this week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned  on Friday Afghan chargé d’affaires in Islamabad over the killing of five Pakistani traders in eastern Nangarhar province, officials said.

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a group of nine Pakistani traders two months ago and killed five of them this week. One aged trader was released, while two are still missing.

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Afghan authorities handed over the bodies of five slain Pakistanis on Wednesday, who were laid to rest in Charsadda district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.

“The Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was called to Foreign Office today, and handed over a démarche, conveying Pakistan’s serious concern over the brutal killing of five Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Ministry said.

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“Government of Afghanistan has been requested to hold an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the killings.

Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly labourers, work in Afghanistan and have sometime complained of harassment by Afghan police.

The Afghan chargé d'affaires Barakatullah Rahmati, condoled the death of the five Pakistani nationals and assured that he would convey Pakistan’s concerns to higher authorities, Afghan sources said.