ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has announced closure of its consulate in Jalalabad, citing ‘undue interference’ by the governor of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in its working and other security concerns.

While notifying the decision to the Afghan foreign ministry, the Pakistan embassy in Kabul stated: “The embassy wishes to inform that the consulate general will remain closed until the security arrangements are complete to the satisfaction of the embassy.”

Calling the intervention of Governor Hayatullah Hayat a complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963, the Kabul embassy asked the Afghan authorities to honour the diplomatic privileges enjoyed by the consulate under international treaties. “The Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul deeply regrets undue intervention of Governor Hayatullah Hayat in the functioning of the Consulate General of the Islamic Rep ublic of Pakistan in Jalalabad, which is a complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963,” the statement read.

Article 31 of the Vienna Convention pertaining to inviolability of the consular premises states: “The authorities of the receiving State shall not enter that part of the consular premises which is used exclusively for the purpose of the work of the consular post except with the consent of the head of the consular post or of his designee or of the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending State.

“The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the consular premises against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the consular post or impairment of its dignity.”

Responding to questions in Kabul, Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Sebghatullah Ahmadi told journalists that the problem would be solved soon. He expressed the hope that the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad would soon resume its operations.

“We are in contact with Pakistan embassy in Kabul and Pakistan general consulate in Jalalabad and this problem will be solved in the near future,” the spokesman said. Pakistan’s Foreign Office, however, did not comment on the statement.

According to Afghan media, Governor Hayat had tried to coerce Pakistani staff to change the visa issuance system that he alleged was causing inconvenience to public. This provoked the embassy, which had already been upset over the demolition of a security wall by the Afghan authorities, to suspend the operations.

According to VoA, Governor Hayat while defending his action said: “We were not happy with activities of the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad. According to our information, the consulate was charging 5,000 ($40) to 20,000 ($160) Pakis­tani rupees from Afghans for processing their visas.”

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...