ISLAMABAD, March 23: Islamabad on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Kabul over the killing of 16 Pakistani civilians by Afghan security forces in Spin Boldak and demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident.

Afghan Ambassador Nangyalai Tarzai was summoned to the Foreign Office by Additional Secretary, Afghanistan, Khurshid Anwer, in the afternoon and a protest was lodged with him.

Pakistan’s serious concern was conveyed over the brutal killing of its nationals who had gone there to participate in the Nauroz celebrations from Chaman. According to reports, the Pakistani nationals were going to Mazar-i-Sharif from Chaman.

“We have registered a strong protest with the Afghan ambassador and asked him to respond after he gets the facts from the Afghan authorities,” Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told Dawn on Thursday.

The minister said the diplomat had assured the Foreign Office that he would convey the protest to his government and give a detailed report about the incident to Islamabad.

“We will see the response of Afghan government and then determine whether or not to take further action,” he said.

A protest was also lodged simultaneously by Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul with the Afghan deputy foreign minister. Although it was a national holiday in both the countries the foreign offices were opened specially in view of the gravity of this incident.

The Afghan ambassador was told that Pakistan expected an appropriate inquiry into the incident and that findings of the investigations be shared with Islamabad, it is learnt. Pakistan also demanded that that those responsible for the cold-blooded murder be brought to the book.

It was pointed out to the Afghan ambassador that those killed were innocent members of the well-known Noorzai tribe and not Taliban militants.

He was told that the 16 civilians were in the custody of Afghan government when they were killed in a “fake” encounter by the Afghan security forces.

“It was also impressed upon the Afghan ambassador that effective measures be taken to ensure that there was no repeat of such an incident,” a Foreign Office statement said.

Mr Sherpao said that one of the deceased Sheen Noor was wanted by Pakistani authorities in criminal cases. “Even then it does not mean that Afghan security forces should have committed such an inhuman act,” the minister said.