WASHINGTON: The United States has called for an investigation into the attack on Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul which the Foreign Office said was an ‘assassination attempt’ on Head of Mission Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani.

Addressing a news briefing on Friday, US State Department Spokesman Ned Price said: “The United States condemns the attack on the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul targeting its head of mission, Ubaid Nizamani, a senior diplomat.”

“The United States is deeply concerned by the attack on a foreign diplomat, and we call for a full and transparent investigation.”

The UN has also condemned the attack and vowed to play its part in improving the security situation in Afghanistan Addressing a news briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, Secretary-General’s Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, “We’re, first of all, thankful that the chargé d’affaires of the embassy of Pakistan was unharmed.”

Mr Dujarric said the UN wants the situation in Afghanistan to improve and will do whatever it can in this regard.

In a statement, the UN Security Council also condemned the attack and urged all members to “respect and ensure the safety and security of diplomatic and consular premises”.

Earlier, Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and condemned the attack, APP reported.

Mr Muttaqi reiterated Afghanistan’s “firm resolve to combat terrorism”and assured that the attackers will be brought to justice.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2022