Pakistan lodges protest over Afghanistan's detention of consulate official
FO says an official of the Pakistan Consulate General at Kandahar ‘was forcibly taken away and kept in detention'
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s ambassador in Islamabad to the foreign ministry and lodged a formal protest over the detention of an official of Pakistan Consulate General at Kandahar by Afghan authorities.
An official of the Pakistan Consulate General at Kandahar ‘was forcibly taken away and kept in detention,’ according to the Foreign Office.
“As a result of the strenuous efforts made by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul and the ministry, the detained official was handed over to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul late last evening,” the Foreign Office said, in a statement.
Read: Border tension: Afghanistan summons Pakistan’s ambassador
Further, Pakistan expressed concern over unprovoked firing by Afghan Border Police at Angoor Adda gate on Pakistan side in which two security personnel were injured.
“It was emphasised that in view of close and brotherly relations existing between the two countries, which have significantly enhanced recently, such incidents should not have taken place,” it added.
The Afghan ambassador assured that he would convey Pakistan’s concerns to the higher authorities in Kabul.
On Thursday, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Abrar Hussain, to the foreign ministry and lodged a formal protest over the recent cross-border shelling.
Pakistan and Afghan officials have confirmed the exchange of firing late Tuesday that caused casualties on both sides of the border.
Read: Cross-border fire from Afghanistan injures two
According to the Pakistan Army a “rocket and few rounds of small arms were fired on Angoor Adda [South Waziristan] gate from Afghan side due to which two security personnel were injured”.
“Pakistani troops responded and targeted positions from where fire was coming,” a statement issued by the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Wednesday.
Afghan foreign ministry’s spokesman, Siddiq Siddiqi, said that an Afghan border police commander was killed in the shelling. He also claimed that “Pakistani forces had been involved in illegal construction on the Afghan side.” However, the Pakistani military spokesman had denied the charges.
Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s ambassador in Islamabad to the foreign ministry and lodged a formal protest over the detention of an official of Pakistan Consulate General at Kandahar by Afghan authorities.
An official of the Pakistan Consulate General at Kandahar ‘was forcibly taken away and kept in detention,’ according to the Foreign Office.
“As a result of the strenuous efforts made by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul and the ministry, the detained official was handed over to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul late last evening,” the Foreign Office said, in a statement.
Read: Border tension: Afghanistan summons Pakistan’s ambassador
Further, Pakistan expressed concern over unprovoked firing by Afghan Border Police at Angoor Adda gate on Pakistan side in which two security personnel were injured.
“It was emphasised that in view of close and brotherly relations existing between the two countries, which have significantly enhanced recently, such incidents should not have taken place,” it added.
The Afghan ambassador assured that he would convey Pakistan’s concerns to the higher authorities in Kabul.
On Thursday, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Abrar Hussain, to the foreign ministry and lodged a formal protest over the recent cross-border shelling.
Pakistan and Afghan officials have confirmed the exchange of firing late Tuesday that caused casualties on both sides of the border.
Read: Cross-border fire from Afghanistan injures two
According to the Pakistan Army a “rocket and few rounds of small arms were fired on Angoor Adda [South Waziristan] gate from Afghan side due to which two security personnel were injured”.
“Pakistani troops responded and targeted positions from where fire was coming,” a statement issued by the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Wednesday.
Afghan foreign ministry’s spokesman, Siddiq Siddiqi, said that an Afghan border police commander was killed in the shelling. He also claimed that “Pakistani forces had been involved in illegal construction on the Afghan side.” However, the Pakistani military spokesman had denied the charges.