Pakistan police clueless about kidnapped Afghan diplomat

Islamabad, Sep 23 (UNI) The Pakistan police today said it is clueless of where abouts of kidnapped Afghan diplomat Abdul Khaliq Farahi.

Afghan Consul-General Abdul Khaliq Farahi was abducted and his driver was shot dead in northwestern city of Peshawar by unknown kidnappers while he was on his way to his residence.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to his Afghan counterpart Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta by telephone. "Qureshi strongly condemned the kidnapping and extended his deep condolences on the death of Farahi's driver who lost his life in the unfortunate incident," a foreign ministry statement said here today.

The Foreign Minister assured his Afghan counterpart that Pakistan was taking all necessary measures for safe and early recovery of Abdul Khaliq Farahi.

Farahi, who is also ambassador-designate, is well respected in Pakistan for his commendable work towards promotion of Pak-Afghan relations.

The Afghan government blamed Pakistan for not providing adequate security to Mr Farahi.

The Afghan diplomat was on his way to his residence when armed men overtook his vehicle near Phase 3 of the posh Hayatabad locality, adjacent to the Khyber tribal region.

The body of the driver, Khalid Khan, was taken to a local mortuary and the diplomat's vehicle to a police station.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The driver tried to speed away but the assailants, who were in a double-cabin truck, overtook it and blocked its way," said an eye-witness.

He said he had seen the armed men bundling two men into their vehicle and killing the driver at point-blank range.

However, police said only the diplomat was kidnapped.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also strongly condemned the kidnapping of Farahi and the Government of Afghanistan said all necessary measures are being taken for his safe and early recovery of the Ambassador-designate.

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