Pakistan has demanded Afghanistan ensure protection of its diplomatic staff and premises in Kabul, where officials say Afghan agents are harassing the Pakistani staff, particularly those living outside of the embassy compound. Officials at the Pakistani diplomatic mission also have reported kidnapping bids against staff members.
The developments, say officials, have forced the embassy personnel to restrict movement and most of them have moved to the embassy compound citing security concerns.
The alleged kidnapping incidents happened in the Sher-e-Nau neighborhood of Kabul earlier this week when “unknown men tried to abduct an official of the Pakistani embassy.”
Speaking in Islamabad Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qazi Kahlilullah urged Afghan authorities to take steps to prevent these incidents, saying security of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and premises in Afghanistan is a top priority.
“We have conveyed our concerns to the relevant authorities in Afghanistan and we have been assured that all possible measures will be taken to ensure that safety of our personnel and premises in Afghanistan is ensured,” Khalilullah said.
Afghan authorities have not yet commented on the allegations.
Tensions in bilateral relations have grown since early this month when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop Taliban insurgents from using training camps across the border to stage deadly attacks in Afghanistan.
Pakistan denies the charges and maintains it is making all efforts to help in the Afghan peace and reconciliation efforts.