Gunmen attack Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, head of mission safe

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan's chargé d'affaires to Afghanistan Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani survived an attack on the country’s embassy in Kabul on Friday, officials said.

"The compound of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul came under attack today targeting Head of Mission, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani. By the grace of Allah Almighty, the Head of Mission is safe," Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan, tweeted.

However, a Pakistani security guard was critically injured while protecting Nizamani, he added.

Sadiq condemned the attack and demanded the interim Taliban administration, which took power in Afghanistan last August, to hold culprits to account and take "urgent measures" to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and citizens in Afghanistan.

The incident was also condemned by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Sharif said he spoke to Nizamani and "expressed solidarity of govt & people with him, while assuring full support & assistance to him & mission on all counts."

"I also conveyed prayers for swift recovery of brave security guard," he tweeted.

Bilawal also condemned the attack in the "strongest possible terms," adding: "The safety & security of our diplomats are of fundamental importance. We salute bravery of Sepoy Israr & pray for his swift recovery."

UNAMA said diplomatic missions are protected under international law, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Meanwhile, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He said the interim administration "will not allow any malicious actors to pose a threat to the security of diplomatic missions in Kabul," and added that it "will conduct a serious investigation, identify perpetrators & bring them to justice."

The attack comes days after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan group, allegedly based in Afghanistan, announced the end of a so-called cease-fire with Pakistan's security forces, and threatened fresh attacks.

Earlier this week, Pakistan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar visited Kabul and met the Afghan leadership.

- Suicide attack on former Afghan premier

Meanwhile, former Afghan Prime Minister and chief of Hezb-e-Islami party Gulbuddin Hekmatyar escaped a suicide bombing in the capital Kabul during Friday prayers.

Shahid Khan, a party member, told Anadolu Agency that two suicide bombers were shot dead as they tried entering a mosque near Hekmatyar's office to target the veteran mujahideen leader.

The car detonated outside, with two security guards getting killed and another person being wounded, he added.

"I am safe," Hikmatyar later said in a video message, adding that investigation is underway to find the perpetrators.