Two Pakistani diplomats go missing in Afghanistan

Two Pakistani diplomats based in a consulate office in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad have been missing since Friday, when they set off by road back to their homeland, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Sunday.

Islamabad did not speculate who may be behind the disappearances but various Afghanistan-based Islamist groups have targeted diplomats in the past.

“Pakistan has requested the Afghan government that all efforts may be made to ensure early recovery of our officials and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” the foreign ministry said in a statement

Islamabad said Afghanistan had formed three investigating groups to probe the incident.

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been tense in recent years — Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of turning a blind eye to Afghan Taliban commanders based within its borders. Pakistan claims Afghanistan is not doing enough to tackle Taliban militants who have been driven out of Pakistan, but carry out attacks across the border.

Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar province, is a busy trading hub about 70 km from the main border crossing with Pakistan, from which landlocked Afghanistan imports much of its goods.

The province is home to various Islamist groups, including Pakistani and Afghan Taliban. In recent years the Islamic State has also established a presence Nangarhar.

Pakistan has requested the Afghan government that all efforts may be made to ensure early recovery of our officials and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY