ISLAMABAD: The Afghan government on Wed­nesday ordered a probe into the killing of a Pakistani diplomatic staffer in Jalalabad and vowed security for Afghanistan-based diplomatic corps.

“The government has issued directives to the security officials to investigate the incident, track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” a statement issued by the Afghan presidency said.

The presidency further condemned the killing of a Pakistani consulate emplo­yee in Jalalabad. “It is an act of terror running counter to all diplomatic principles,” the statement said.

Nayyar Iqbal Rana, who worked in the visa section of the consulate, was shot dead on Monday evening while he was shopping in a market near his residence.

Earlier in June, two staffers of the Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad were abducted as they travelled by road back to their country. They were later recovered by Afghan security forces.

The Foreign Office (FO) had condemned the murder and summoned the Afghan charge d’ affaires to receive protest over the incident. The FO had demanded foolproof security for Pakistani diplomats and missions in Afghanistan.

Reassuring Kabul’s diplomatic corps of security arrangements, the presidency said: “The Afghan government obliges itself to ensure security of all diplomatic representations, dire­cting its security and defe­nce officials to take all necessary measures for ensuring security of all diplomatic corps and representations based in Afghanistan”.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also called Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to offer condolences on Mr Rana’s murder.

Mr Abbasi told Mr Ghani that Pakistan expected urgent steps for apprehending the culprits of this heinous crime and bringing them to justice at the earliest.

“The prime minister underlined the need for thorough investigation by the Afghan government to expose the forces behind this abhorrent act,” the Prime Minister Office said and demanded better security arrangements for Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan, including diplomats and diplomatic premises.

He further underscored the need for “sustained eng­agement” between the two neighbours for promoting harmony and cooperation.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2017