Daughter of Afghanistan envoy to Pakistan kidnapped in Islamabad

In a shocking development, daughter of Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Alikhil, was kidnapped in Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday.

The 27-year-old went missing at around 2.30 pm (local time) near Rana Market in Islamabad. Her shoes and mobile phone are missing. 

Just hours after the incident, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan and lodged a "strong protest" apart from expressing "deep concerns" over the incident.

In a statement after the summoning, Afghan foreign ministry said that it "explicitly called on the Pakistani government to take immediate action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime and ensure the full security and immunity of Afghan diplomats and their families in accordance with international conventions."

Ambassador Alikhil's daughter is currently in a hospital and according to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science in Islamabad, she has swelling in various parts of her body. 

Earlier, in a strongly worded statement, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "deep regret" & it said that it "strongly condemns this heinous act". The Afghan foreign ministry expressed its "deep concern over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan."

Ambassador Alikhil's daughter was assaulted in a taxi which she had taken while returning from market. Her hands and feet were tied when she regained consciousness. Her dupatta had tissue paper and rupees 50 note with message “your turn is next“ and “communist”.

Pakistan has reacted to the development. Its foreign ministry has said it had increased the security of the Afghan envoy and his family.

"Law enforcement agencies are trying to trace and apprehend the culprits to be brought to justice," the ministry said in a statement 

Pakistani PM Imran Khan has directed the country's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to utilize all resources to apprehend the persons involved in the incident. A deadline of 48 hours has been given for law enforcement agencies to apprehend the culprits.

This is not the first time diplomats and their families have met danger. Indian diplomats have been in the past faced harassment in Islamabad. This has included power supply being cut, internet connection being slowed down.

In response to a question on the safety of Indian diplomats in Islamabad in aftermath of the abduction of Afghan envoy's daughter, Indian sources said, "we have been issuing alerts to our High Commission personnel on regular basis"