Afghan gov't condemns attack near Pakistani Consulate in eastern town

The Afghan government has strongly condemned a terrorist attack near Pakistani General Consulate office in Jalalabad city, capital of eastern Nangarhar province, the country's Foreign Ministry reported on its website on Thursday.

On Wednesday, seven Afghan security forces, two civilians and three militants were killed and 11 people were wounded in a car bombing and a four-hour siege on a guesthouse adjoining the Pakistani consulate building in the city, 120 km east of Kabul.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has put the security and safety assurance of the friendly countries'diplomatic missions and consulates diplomats and staff in Kabul and other cities into the Afghan national security forces'agenda and pays serious attention in this regard," the statement reads.

The ministry also appreciated the country's "national security forces'attempts in bringing the terrorists down, and considers it a vivid sign of these forces' commitment towards keeping the diplomatic and consulate places of the friendly countries in Afghanistan safe," according to the statement.

"Keeping the diplomatic spirit, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as the host country for Pakistan's General Consulate had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mr. Nawaz Sharif." the statement added.

Militants affiliated to Islamic State (IS) have reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Endit