Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over diplomat's "detention"

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Afghan envoy and lodged protest over the "detention" of two Pakistani embassy diplomats in Kabul, the foreign ministry said.

Pakistani sources in Kabul earlier told local media in Islamabad that the two embassy members were "forcibly" taken by Afghan security officials when they had gone for shopping. Both were later released.

"The Afghan Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) was summoned to the Foreign Office to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the incident in which two diplomatic officials in Kabul were detained today, reportedly by Afghan security agencies," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Afghan DHM was conveyed that the incident was a clear violation of the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations and against the spirit of the brotherly relations between the two countries, the statement said.

"It was emphasized that such incidents undermined the constructive engagement which the two countries envisaged for strengthening of bilateral ties," it added.

The foreign ministry urged the Afghan government to take immediate steps to ensure the security and safety of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and premises and to ensure that such incident will not take place in future. Endit