Recovered Pakistani diplomats return home

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Two Pakistani diplomats, who were safely recovered from Afghanistan Wednesday after being kidnapped in June, arrived in the capital Islamabad Thursday, a statement said.

The diplomats were handed over to the Pakistan embassy in Kabul Wednesday by the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs after they were recovered by security forces in an operation, according to the statement issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

“The two officials and their families have expressed their profound gratitude to the Afghan government for the efforts in their safe recovery”, the statement further said.

On June 16, the diplomats based in Consulate General of Pakistan in eastern Jalalabad city were abducted while they were heading to Torkham on way back to their homeland.

No group had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Both Kabul and Islamabad declined to comment on when and where the security operation was conducted, and which militant group was involved in the abduction.

Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, has been home to different militant groups, including Pakistani and Afghan Taliban. Daesh has also established a foothold in the region.

Diplomatic relations between the two neighbors have been tensed with both accusing each other of not doing enough to tackle Pakistani and Afghan Taliban.