Summary No practical steps were taken as of Tuesday for consulate's security by the Afghan government.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s consulate in Jalalabad remained closed for fifth consecutive day after the Afghan government did not take practical steps for its security.
Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani during his telephonic call with Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi had assured fool-proof for the Pakistani consulate.
On September 1, Pakistan temporarily shut down its Consulate General in Jalalabad City in Nangarhar province for an indefinite period to protest local officials’ intervention in activities of the diplomatic office.
Pakistani embassy in Kabul said that the decision was taken in reaction to provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat’s intervention in activities of the consulate.
“The Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul deeply regrets undue intervention of Governor Hayatullah Hayat in the functioning of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Jalalabad is complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963.”
The embassy said that the Consulate General will remain closed until the security arrangements are completed to the satisfaction of the embassy.
The embassy said it had requested the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “kindly refrain the governor from interfering in the functioning of the Consulate General and to ensure restoration of security of the consulate office as it existed on August 28, 2018”.
However on Sunday; after lack of assurance of possible security, the consulate was closed for an indefinite period.
