KABUL – Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi regarding the ongoing investigation into the abduction of the Afghan Ambassador’s daughter, expressing deep concern over the remarks of the Pakistani Interior Minister. Mr. Atmar said unprofessional remarks and premature judgments could strongly affect bilateral relations and the credibility of the ongoing, and still incomplete, investigation.
Minister Atmar reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to cooperate with the Government of Pakistan in pursuing the investigation to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators of the crime and to ensure the security of Afghan political missions and diplomats in that country.
To this end, an Afghan delegation will visit Pakistan, and subsequent actions will be taken regarding the return of the Afghan Ambassador and diplomats based on the delegation’s assessments and findings.
Expressing deep regrets and empathy, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said Ms. Silsila’s case would be dealt with seriously as one of “our” own daughters. As instructed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he added, the investigation would soon be concluded, and appropriate actions would be taken accordingly. Mr. Qureshi assured Minister Atmar of Pakistan’s robust measures to ensure the security and safety of the Afghan missions and diplomats in Pakistan.
Following the abduction and torture of the Afghan Ambassador’s daughter in Pakistan, the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan called back the Afghan Ambassador and senior diplomats from Islamabad.
