Pakistan's Head of Mission in Kabul Survives Assassination Attempt

Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul came under attack on Friday with Chargé d’Affaires to Afghanistan Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani targeted, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

In a statement, the FO noted that the embassy compound was attacked, assuring that Nizamani remained safe. However, a security guard, Sepoy Israr Mohammad, was “critically injured” while protecting the mission head.

“The interim government of Afghanistan must immediately hold thorough investigations in this attack, apprehend the culprits, hold them to account, and take urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and citizens in Afghanistan,” the FO said.

On his part, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the “dastardly assassination attempt”.

Sharif tweeted: “Salute to the brave security guard, who took a bullet to save his life. Prayers for the swift recovery of a security guard.”

He called for immediate investigation and action “against the perpetrators of this heinous act.”

In the same vein, the Afghan foreign ministry condemned the incident, whereas Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi issued a statement, affirming that security institutions would “seriously investigate” the incident and identity the perpetrators to punish them.

The Afghan government will not allow some “vested interest elements” to threaten the security of officials of diplomatic missions, according to the statement.