Pakistan closed its consulate in Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif after a woman tried to take a hand grenade into the premises, the Foreign Office said on Sunday.
The suspect had concealed the explosives in her personal bag, the Foreign Office said in a statement, adding that the suspect was taken into custody by Afghan authorities with a probe underway to bring to book those behind the failed terrorist attack.
“Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul has urged the Afghan government to provide a foolproof security to the consulate. The government has also asked for findings of the investigation to be shared with Islamabad at the earliest,” the statement said. “The consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif will remain closed for visa services till the provision of foolproof security by the authorities to prevent any untoward incident from happening in the future,” it added.
The incident comes a day after the United State negotiators and the Afghan Taliban admitted ‘progress on vital issues’ in talks in Qatar, albeit the insurgents said there was no agreement on ceasefire or talks with the Afghan government.
Published in Daily Times, January 28th 2019.
