Pakistan Embassy in Kabul closes consular section

The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul has announced that its consular section will be closed from Monday until further notice, due to security reasons.

The Afghan chargé d'affaires in Pakistan was summoned by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday over reports of harassment of Pakistani diplomats in Kabul, according to a press release by the ministry, which has called for an investigation, TOLO News reported.

"The Afghan chargé d'affaires was informed that the Officers and Staff of the Embassy of Pakistan were being harassed over the past two days. They were obstructed on the road and the Embassy vehicles were also hit by motorcycles while going towards the Embassy," said Mohammad Faisal, spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

"The chargé d'affaires was reminded that being party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities 1961, it is the responsibility of the government of Afghanistan to ensure safety, security and freedom of movement to all members of the Mission."

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in the statement asked the Afghan envoy to convey to Afghan authorities Pakistan's request for an "immediate investigation" into the reported "security violations" and "harassment incidents".

Monday's development comes after the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar was shut down earlier last month to protest against the removal of its national flag from a disputed property known as Afghan Market in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital city.

The market sits in front of the Jinnah Park and is spread over acres of land, reports Dawn news.

The Afghan National Bank has been collecting rent from tenants per month through its manager.

The place had been in possession of the Afghan government for the last several decades.IANS