Expressing concerns: Afghan envoy handed demarche over killings

Pakistan requests Afghanistan to conduct thorough investigation into brutal killing of five businessmen

ISLAMABAD:

A senior Afghan diplomat was summoned by the Foreign Office on Friday and a strong protest was lodged over the brutal killing of five Pakistanis in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan deputy head of mission was called to the Foreign Office today (Friday) and handed over a demarche, conveying Pakistan’s serious concern over the brutal killing of five Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministry.

It said Islamabad has requested Kabul to hold an investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families of the victims,” the handout added.



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.

Afghan authorities handed over the bodies of the slain Pakistanis on Wednesday. A day later, they were laid to rest in Charsadda district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killings.

Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly labourers, work in the neighbouring Afghanistan and have sometime complained of harassment by the Afghan police. The Afghan chargé d’affaires, Barakatullah Rahmati, condoled the deaths and assured that he would convey Pakistan’s concerns to the higher authorities.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have improved significantly ever since the unity government led by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdullah Abdullah came to power. Both the countries are trying to open a new chapter in their relationship often marred by trust deficit and suspicion in the past.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2015.