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PESHAWAR: The Afghan consulate in Peshawar city of Pakistan has reportedly been closed by Afghanistan in protest over the harassment by Pakistani security forces.
According to reports, the consulate was closed after consul general’s vehicle was searched at a check post in the Cantt area of the city.
It is believed that the consulate will remain closed for an indefinite amount of time.
In the meantime, the Pakistani security officials have said the vehicle was not following the specified protocol for official and diplomatic vehicles, hence it was stopped was a security check.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria has said he is aware of the incident and that the ministry will issue an official statement after obtaining all the relevant information from the concerned quarters.
The harassment of the Afghan diplomat in Peshawar city by the Pakistani police and closure of the consulate comes as the relations between Kabul and Islamabad witnessed ups and downs during the recent weeks.
Recently tensions intensified between the two countries over the closure of Torkham gate which sparked as the Afghan border forces stopped the Pakistani forces to install barbed wire.
However the crossing was reopened after Pakistan and Afghanistan reached an understanding to reopen it. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
