Afghanistan withdrew its diplomats in response to the kidnapping of the ambassador’s daughter in Pakistan.

Afghanistan has withdrawn its ambassador and diplomat from the Pakistani capital. Kidnapping The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this is a new blow to relations during the sensitive period of the Afghan peace process.

Silsila Alikhil, the daughter of Najib Alikhil, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, was detained and held for several hours by unidentified attackers who left her with scars and rope marks on Friday. The Pakistani authorities stated that they are investigating the incident.

“The Afghan government recalls its ambassador to Kabul and senior diplomats until the security threats are completely eliminated, including arrest and punishment of perpetrators,” said the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said on Saturday that Alekshir was on the way home in the Pakistani capital when she was abducted, adding that she was being treated in the hospital after she was discharged.

“The kidnapping of the daughter of the Afghan ambassador and the subsequent torture hurt the soul of our country. Our national spirit has been tortured,” Afghanistan’s Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Twitter.

Islamabad has relatively tight security and a population of about 1 million.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan stated that an Afghan delegation will visit Pakistan to assess the situation and then “will take more measures”.

Highest priority probe

Pakistan’s Interior Minister said on Saturday that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has made the Alikhil issue a top priority and said he hopes to catch criminals within 48 hours.

Pakistan is considered a key participant in the Afghan peace process. In the weeks since US President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of US troops on September 11, the Taliban group has taken over Afghan territory.

For a long time, relations between neighboring countries have been cold. Kabul accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven for the Taliban, while Islamabad accused Kabul of allowing armed groups to use its territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan was recognized for helping to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table for peace negotiations that began in Qatar last year, but the negotiations failed to make substantial progress and the Taliban stepped up their offensive.