Pak's Qureshi dials counterpart in Kabul as Afghanistan recalls diplomats

Islamabad, July 19

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday telephoned his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Haneef Atmar and assured him of taking all steps to arrest the culprits involved in the kidnapping of the daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully aware of the diplomatic norms and security of the Afghan embassy, and consulate in Pakistan has been further enhanced, Radio Pakistan quoted Qureshi as saying.

He assured the Afghan Foreign Minister that “Pakistan will take all possible steps to arrest the accused and bring them to justice at the earliest”.

Qureshi said “we hope that the Afghan government will review its decision of calling back its ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan keeping in view Pakistan’s serious efforts”.

The Afghan Foreign Minister thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for his personal interest in the investigation and appreciated the efforts by Qureshi for enhancing security of the Afghan embassy and the consulate, the report said. On Sunday, the diplomatic crisis between Pakistan and Afghanistan deepened after Kabul announced that it would withdraw its ambassador and other senior staff from Islamabad. Meanwhile, Pakistan also called back its ambassador to Afghanistan for “consultations” on the alleged abduction and release of the Afghan envoy’s daughter in Islamabad, according to the Foreign Office. Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan arrived here on Sunday to meet Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood. Mahmood on Monday met the Afghan envoy and highlighted all the steps taken by the government and re-assured him of full cooperation. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told Geo TV on Sunday that the entire episode of abduction was the result of an “international racket” to defame Pakistan. PTI

‘Taking steps to bring culprits to book’

• Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi assured the Afghan Foreign Minister that “Pakistan will take all possible steps to arrest the accused and bring them to justice at the earliest”.
• Pakistan and Afghanistan often trade accusations, with Kabul claiming Islamabad is sending thousands of militants to fight in the war-torn country.
• Pakistan claims that Afghan harbours an anti-Paki group.