Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Wednesday demanded of Pakistan to handover its national, who had killed a Karachi-based diplomat last year.

An Afghan security guard at the consulate in Karachi had shot dead Muhammad Zaki Abdu, third secretary, within the premises of Afghanistan’s Consulate General in February 2017, apparently over personal dispute. The guard later surrendered to the police.

The Afghan Foreign Minister, Syed Salauddin Rabbani, in meeting with Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul Zahid Nasrullah Khan, said the diplomat was killed in “mysterious circumstances” and demanded his extradition, an Afghan Foreign Ministry statement said. The Dari-language statement was also received by Daily Times. Pakistan and Afghanistan have currently no extradition treaty and both sides have been involved in talks on a possible prisoners’ exchange treaty. The ambassador and Rabbani also discussed exchange of prisoners, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.

Daily Times has learnt that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has approved handover the accused guard, Rahat Hayat, and the “process of his extradition is under process.” Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal had ruled out terrorism in the consulate firing and had stated after the incident that “It seems to be a personal dispute related criminal act.” Sources in Islamabad said that Pakistani ambassador demanded of the Afghan Foreign Minister a list of nearly 200 Pakistani prisoners, who are languishing in Bagram and Kabul’s Pul-i-Charkhi jails. Parts of Bagram are still held by the American forces. They said Afghan authorities recently allowed Pakistani diplomats in Kabul to visit prisoners at both jails, but has not yet accepted Pakistan’s request for providing a complete list of Pakistani prisoners.

“Pakistan also asked the Afghan side to share details of Pakistanis when they are arrested,” the source said. Pakistani ambassador condemned the recent attacks in Kabul and urged the Taliban to come to the negotiation table, according to the Afghan Foreign Ministry statement.

The ambassador informed the Afghan Foreign Minister that a Pakistani economic delegation will soon visit Afghanistan to discuss bilateral trade issues.

Published in Daily Times, May 3^rd 2018.