Pakistan closes consulate in Jalalabad for an indefinite period
Last updated on: 02 September,2018 02:05 pm
Pak-Afghan authorities met to discussed the possible suggestions for security of the Consulate.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Sunday has decided to close consulate in Afghanistan for an indefinite period over the issue of security and intervention by provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat in Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad.
The step has been taken due the lack of assurance of possible security of the consulate in Jalalabad.
Earlier, Afghan authorities had met Pakistani officials over the issue of security and intervention and said that the issue was a simple misunderstanding and would be resolved soon.
During the meeting the authorities had discussed the possible suggestions for security of the Consulate building.
While speaking about the issue spokesman for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, had said Governor’s intervention was a misunderstanding which caused concern among staff at the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad however, soon the problem will be solved.
On Friday, Pakistan had temporarily closed the Jalalabad Consulate to protest Nangarhar governor’s interventions.
The decision was taken in reaction to provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat’s intervention in activities of the consulate.
“The Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul deeply regrets undue intervention of Governor Hayatullah Hayat in the functioning of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Jalalabad is complete violation of the Vienna Convention of the Consular Relations 1963.”
The embassy had said that the Consulate General will remain closed until the security arrangements are completed to the satisfaction of the embassy.
The embassy had requested the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “kindly refrain the governor from interfering in the functioning of the Consulate General and to ensure restoration of security of the consulate office as it existed on August 28, 2018.”