By: Lailuma Noori
A fact-finding delegation of Afghanistan has arrived in Pakistan talk to Pakistani officials on abduction case of Silsila Alikhil, daughter of Afghanistan Ambassador in Islamabad.
Hamid Tahzib, Deputy Spokesperson to Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), told media the other day that the Afghan fact-finding delegation will discuss on document and evidence on hand in connection with abduction of Ms. Alikhil.
“The visit of the Afghan fact-finding delegation to Islamabad is aimed to share the evidence and document on hand between the two sides. With all the evidence and document on hand, necessary decisions will be made for identification, arresting and introducing the perpetrators to justice,” Tahzib said.
On 17th July, Afghanistan Minister of Foreign Affairs agreed with his Pakistani counterpart for dispatching an Afghan fact-finding delegation to Islamabad to further probe the abduction case of Silsila Alikhil.
The visit of the Afghan fact-finding delegation to Pakistan comes after debate on probing the abduction case of Silsila by Pakistan has been questioned and it seems that the Pakistani side has somehow tried to hide the facts in this regard.
According to details shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and medical tests taken from Silsila in Pakistan and Turkey, the kidnappers have tortured her while she fainted with tied hands and feet. Then the kidnappers have opened up her hands and feet and leave her in the slum area with a SIM-less mobile phone and a 50 Pakistani Rupees banknote. The abductors also threatened, apparently addressing the Afghan ambassador, writing “this time, it’s your turn” on the banknote in Pashto language.
Medical tests, however, have suggested that Silsila has not been raped. Moreover, she is now suffering from trauma of the incident and often sees nightmares.
Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stressed that no reason has been accepted as the abduction has taken place based on medical reports and evidence on hand, saying that the government of Pakistan is obliged to maintain security of political missions and ensure full safety of the Afghan diplomats and members of their families in accordance to the international conventions and commitments.
Following the abduction of Silsila Alikhil in Islamabad, Afghanistan government evacuated its ambassador and embassy staff from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the country’s ambassador and the rest of diplomats should not return to Islamabad unless Pakistan identifies, arrests and punishes individuals involved in abduction of the Afghan ambassador’s daughter in Islamabad.
In reaction to the abduction of Silsila Alikhil, daughter of Afghanistan ambassador to Islamabad, Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Pakistan ambassador to Kabul and asked for investigation in this regard.
Besides, Afghanistan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, head of the country’s High Council for National Reconciliation Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and other Afghan political leaders and activists have strongly condemned the incident and asked the Pakistani government for arresting and punishing those involved in the case.
Silsila Alikhil, daughter of Afghanistan ambassador to Islamabad Najib Alikhil, was abducted on 16 July in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The incident was met with strong condemnation in Afghanistan. Following the incident, the two countries recalled their ambassadors and diplomats to their capitals.
