Pak in damage control exercise after torture and abduction of Afghan envoy’s daughter

The kidnapping and ‘severe torture’ of daughter of Najib Alikhil, the Afghan ambassador, to Islamabad Silsila Alikhil has left Pakistani establishment red-faced, and efforts were launched as damage control exercise.

An angry mood prevailed in Afghanistan over the sad episode and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan on Saturday afternoon.

A strong protest was lodged over the abduction of the daughter of Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Islamabad.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Mr. Khan to convey the strong protest and deep concerns of the Government of Afghanistan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Pakistan about this grave incident,” an official statement said.

Relations between the two neighbours have long been strained.

Pakistani officials says Silsila Alikhil, who is in her 20s, was assaulted by assailants who got into a car she was travelling in. The envoy, Najib Alikhil, later said his daughter “feels better now”

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The Afghan foreign Ministry “explicitly called” upon the Pakistani government to take immediate action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime and ensure the full security and immunity of Afghan diplomats and their families in accordance with international conventions.

Ms. Silsila Alikhil was abducted for several hours in Islamabad on Friday and was released after being “tortured”, the statement said.

“The MoFA (Afghanistan) strongly condemns this heinous act and expresses its deep concern over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan,” the statement said.

In Islamabad a visibly embarrassed Pakistani authorities launched their damage control exercise. “The security of the Ambassador (of Afghanistan) and his family has been beefed up, law enforcement agencies are trying to trace and apprehend the culprits to be brought to justice,” a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman said. As reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad, (on July 16), the daughter of the Ambassador was “assaulted while riding a rented vehicle”.

“Immediately after this disturbing incident was reported, the Islamabad Police launched a thorough investigation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant security authorities are closely in contact with the Ambassador and his family and extending full support in the matter,” the Pakistani spokesman said.

The Afghan government including president Ashraf Ghani and vice president Amrullah Saleh.have accused Pakistan of providing safe haven for Taliban militants.

Pakistan Air Force has allegedly warned Afghan Forces on acting against Taliban, :Aghanistan vice president Amrullah Saleh has said.

Lately, the Taliban militants have made advances across the country, seizing key border posts and virtually taking control over 85 per cent of the country.

The US and its allied countries, including the UK, have withdrawn nearly all military forces. India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar recently said taking over power by Taliban by violence and use of force is “illegitimate”.