December 22, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 23, 1429

TEHRAN, Dec 21: An Iranian diplomat kidnapped last month in Pakistan is alive, Tehran’s ambassador to Islamabad was quoted by a newspaper as saying on Sunday.

Gunmen kidnapped Hashmatullah Attarzadeh when he was on his way to the consulate in Peshawar on November 13 and killed his guard.

“The embassy’s efforts to locate him have been somewhat satisfactory and we have learned with Pakistani security officials’ help that he is alive,” Mashallah Shakeri was quoted as saying by mass-circulation Hamshahri newspaper.

“We hope he will return to his family soon,” the Iranian ambassador added.

There has been a surge in violence in Peshawar blamed on militants from the ousted Taliban regime, while Pakistani troops have increased operations along the country’s porous border with Afghanistan.

Iran has condemned the kidnapping and made it clear that the diplomat’s safety was Islamabad’s responsibility.—AFP