ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has termed Afghanistan’s determination to recall its ambassador and different senior diplomats from Islamabad as “unlucky and regrettable” after the alleged abduction and torture of the daughter of its envoy, and urged Kabul to rethink the transfer.
Pakistan’s Overseas Workplace in an in a single day assertion mentioned the reported abduction and assault of the 26-year-old daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Alikhil is being investigated and followed-up on the highest stage on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The choice by the Authorities of Afghanistan to recall its Ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan is unlucky and regrettable,” the Overseas Workplace mentioned.
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It mentioned the safety of the ambassador, his household and personnel of the Embassy and Consulates of Afghanistan in Pakistan has been additional beefed up.
Pakistan’s Overseas Secretary met the Afghan envoy on Sunday and highlighted the steps taken by the federal government for the safety of the diplomats and re-assured him of full cooperation.
“We hope that the Authorities of Afghanistan would rethink its determination,” the assertion mentioned.
The Afghan envoy’s daughter, Silsila Alikhil, was allegedly kidnapped, tortured and assaulted on Friday by unknown individuals in Islamabad.
She was kidnapped whereas using a rented automobile and was held for a number of hours earlier than being launched.
She was discovered close to F-9 Park space of the capital with torture marks on her physique.
Nevertheless, Inside Minister Sheikh Rashid in an interview to personal TV channel Geo Information mentioned the ambassador’s daughter was not kidnapped and alleged that your complete episode was the results of an “worldwide racket” to “defame” Pakistan.
Curiously, Rashid earlier within the day had claimed that Pakistan was near arresting the abductors.
He additionally mentioned that police has registered a primary data report within the abduction and torture case.
“It’s a high precedence case because the Prime Minister has directed to unravel it and arrest the culprits,” the minister had mentioned.
In an announcement to police, which was circulated within the media, the envoy’s daughter mentioned she went to purchase a present and employed a taxi.
Whereas coming again, the motive force pulled over on the roadside after a five-minute drive and one other man barged in who first shouted at her then began beating her.
“As a result of I used to be scared, so I felt unconscious,” she mentioned.
Alikhil mentioned after she regained consciousness, she discovered herself “at a spot filled with filth”.
She then took a taxi to go to a close-by park from the place she referred to as her father’s colleague, who introduced her house.
The kidnapping incident has occurred amidst a disagreement between Islamabad and Kabul over Pakistan’s alleged tacit help to Taliban fighters who’re confronting Afghan authorities forces as Western forces, together with these from the US, are withdrawing from the war-torn nation by August 31 after twenty years following the 9/11 terror assaults.
In an announcement issued on Saturday, July 17, 2021, Afghanistan demanded Pakistan “to determine and prosecute the perpetrators on the soonest doable time”.
The Afghan overseas ministry additionally mentioned it “expresses its deep concern over the security and safety of diplomats, their households, and employees members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan”.
Pakistan and Afghanistan typically commerce accusations, with Kabul claiming Islamabad is sending hundreds of militants to struggle within the war-torn nation and offering protected haven for the Taliban.
Pakistan, in flip, claims that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – the Pakistani Taliban – and likewise the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Military.
Afghanistan has seen an uptick in violence after US President Joe Biden’s announcement of the withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
