Pakistan, Afghanistan speak on ‘abduction’ incident

KABUL, ISLAMABAD

Afghanistan warned Monday that “unprofessional remarks and premature judgments” related to the "abduction" and "torture" of Afghan envoy Najibullah Alikhel's daughter in Pakistan have the potential to damage bilateral relations.

Speaking by phone with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar was referring to remarks Sunday by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, who dubbed the "abduction" incident a “conspiracy of the Indian external intelligence agency RAW.”

Atmar added that Afghanistan is ready to assist the government of Pakistan in the investigation process, arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators and ensuring the security of diplomats.

A delegation from Afghanistan is scheduled to visit Pakistan soon, and in light of its findings, further steps will be taken to ensure the return of the Afghan ambassador and diplomats, he added.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign minister said an investigation team is nearing the final stages, but they need cooperation from the Afghan side to give it a final touch.

"Pakistan does not want to hide anything in relation to the probe and will present all the facts before the world once the investigation is concluded," Qureshi said, adding it needs cooperation and access from the Afghan side to finalize the investigation.

"I have assured Atmar that our interests are the same. We both want to bring the truth before the world, and if they [Afghanistan] cooperate, we will be able to give it [investigation] a final touch," he said.

National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf and Islamabad Police Inspector General Qazi Jamil‑ur‑Rehman were also present at the news conference.

Afghan government urged to review its decision

Qureshi urged the Afghan government to review its decision of calling back its ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan and said his government had further beefed up security around the Afghan embassy and its consulates in Pakistan.

"Some elements want to damage our relations, and they are not friends of Afghanistan and the whole region," he said, without naming any country but apparently referring to Pakistan’s long-time rival India.

Rehman also briefed reporters on the investigation so far and said the security agencies have reached all four taxi drivers who picked up and dropped off the envoy's young daughter Silsila Alikhel at various locations in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

"We have all the videos and other information but just need some more details from the envoy's daughter to finalize our report," he said.

Pakistan being targeted through hybrid warfare

Yusuf said his country has been targeted by "hybrid warfare" and the spreading of fake information from India, Afghanistan and some other countries.

"Some fake accounts on social media, which were spreading fake news and propaganda regarding Balochistan and Kashmir, are now active in this case [envoy daughter incident] as well," he said, adding these elements create a narrative against Pakistan.

"Pakistan is being made a scapegoat, which is unacceptable. No one should put their failure in Afghanistan on Pakistan's shoulders," he warned.

On Sunday, Afghanistan called back its ambassador from Pakistan after the envoy's daughter was allegedly abducted and tortured in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Afghan President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani's adviser Waheed Omar said in a series of tweets that the Foreign Ministry has been directed to ensure that those responsible for the incident get punished and that the security of the Afghan ambassador and diplomats in Pakistan is guaranteed.