Two Pakistani diplomatic officials abducted in Afghanistan last month were recovered in an operation conducted by Afghan security forces, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told Pakistani officials in Kabul on Wednesday.

The two were members of staff of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad. They were kidnapped while they were travelling from Jalalabad to Torkham.

Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal had assured the Pakistani government that Afghanistan's security institutions and intelligence agencies were looking for the abducted officials.

President Ghani personally phoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Kabul to inform the mission that Afghan security forces had recovered the officials.

Subsequently, the two officials were handed over to the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are expected to return to Pakistan soon.

Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua conveyed the Pakistani government's gratitude over the safe recovery of the diplomats to Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai.