US and UN flay shooting at Pak’s embassy in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: The US on Saturday condemned an atack a day earlier on the Pakistani embassy in Afghanistan’s capital, in which a senior diplomat escaped unhurt but one of his Pakistani guards was wounded, sending a wave of anger in this Islamic nation.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council issued a press statement condemning in “the strongest terms” Friday’s terrorist atack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul that targeted the Head of the Mission and called for ensuring the safety of diplomatic and consular premises.

The UN Security Council also wished a speedy and full recovery to the security guard who was critically injured in the “reprehensible” attack.

Shots were fired at the embassy from a nearby building by an as-yet known assailant or assailants.

Pakistan repatriated the wounded guard Israr Mohammad by helicopter and he was being treated at a hospital on Saturday.

The embassy atack came days ater Pakistan’s deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar flew to Kabul to hold talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi on a range of issues, including the latest threat from Pakistani Taliban who recently ended a monthslong ceasefire with Pakistan and asked fighters to resume atacks across the country.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States condemned the Embassy atack, telling reporters “we offer our sympathies and wish a quick recovery to those affected by the violence.”

The United States is “deeply concerned by the atack on a foreign diplomat and we call for a full and transparent investigation,” Price said.

The US chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, Karen Decker also condemned the atack on Nizamani in a tweet on Saturday.

“Outraged at atack on my diplomatic counterpart @Pakinafg, Ubaid Nizamani; I am grateful he is safe & wish a quick recovery to the brave security guard who was injured. I join the call for a swit, thorough and transparent investigation,” Decker wrote.