Ghani orders probe into Pakistani consulate staffer’s death in Jalalabad

KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday condemned the killing of a Pakistani consulate staff member, Rana Nayyar Iqbal, in Jalalabad on Monday and ordered security institutions to investigate the incident.

According to a statement issued by the presidential palace, he also asked the security institutions to find out who was responsible for the attack.

The statement said the government is responsible for ensuring the safety of foreign diplomatic staff and said security institutions need to take this seriously.

National Security Adviser Haneef Atmar tweeted that he had spoken with his Pakistani counterpart Gen Nasser Janjua and offered his condolences. He said on Twitter, “terrorists are enemies of both nations, thus we need joint, well-coordinated and realistic efforts to eliminate them.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday also condemned the shooting.

The Khorasan chapter of the Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh, has claimed responsibility for the killing of a Pakistani diplomat in Afghanistan.

Iqbal, who worked in the visa section of the consulate general, was shot dead outside his residence Monday evening.

The body was handed over to Pakistani authorities at Torkham on Tuesday.

Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan was closed by the authorities on Tuesday after the incident. According to reports, all types of traffic was suspended on both sides of the crossing, including NATO supplies.

The border was re-opened after the handing over of the dead body to Pakistani authorities. Later the Pakistan authorities dispatched the dead body of Nayar Iqbal Rana to his native village district, Sialkot.

Later in the day, the funeral prayers of the diplomat were held in the federal capital, which were attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.