ISLAMABAD, Dec 22: The Foreign Office summoned the acting Afghan ambassador on Saturday to lodge protest against beating of Pakistani labourers by Afghan forces while returning to Pakistan.

“The Afghan Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning and a strong protest was lodged, seeking an investigation into the incident and action against those responsible,” the FO spokesman said.

He said the government had taken serious note of the incident in which 29 Pakistanis were badly beaten en route by Afghan forces despite having valid travel documents/passports.

The labourers had gone to Afghanistan for work. The company, which employed them, is said to have not paid their wages and in some cases damaged their documents. They also remained locked up in Pul-i-Charkhi jail.

The Afghan diplomat was asked to ensure that there was no recurrence of such incidents in future.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq has also lodged a protest with the Afghan government.

PROBE: Afghan officials say they are investigating Pakistan’s allegations, adds AP.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said he had no information about the Pakistani claim, but Kabul would try to investigate it.