Security
Pakistan: Abduction of Iranian diplomat sign of new regional war, claims analyst
Peshawar, 14 Nov. (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - The kidnapping of senior Iranian diplomat Hashmatullah Atharzadehon Thursday could signal the start of a regional war between alleged al-Qaeda militants and the Iranian government, a senior militant said. "This is payback time for Iran and for its active involvement in destabilising the Taliban government in Afghanistan and for facilitating the US-led invasion on Afghanistan through pro-Iranian Afghan groups," a senior militant told Adnkronos International (AKI), speaking on condition of anonimity.
The militant said Atharzadeh's abduction was due to "the arrest of top Al-Qaeda leaders in Iran, for facilitating the US invasion on Iraq through pro-Iran militias and last but not the least for waging the war on the Taliban in Pakistani Khurram agency where Iran provided arms and ammunition to the Shia tribal groups to fight against the Taliban,"
Atharzadeh, who is based at the Iranian Consulate in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar was abducted by gunmen on Thursday.
Atharzadeh is the commercial attache at the consulate and was reported to have been kidnapped by four armed men on his way home in Hayatabad district where the consulate is located.
"More attacks and actions will be carried out against Iranian interests in coming days and we shall settle each and every dispute through negotiations," concluded the militant.
The kidnapping of the diplomat is the second such incident to have occurred recently. Taliban militants are suspected of having kidnapped Afghan Consul General Abdul Khaliq Farahi nearly two months ago and are believed to be still holding him hostage.
Two weeks ago the brother of an Afghan minister was also kidnapped.
On Friday, militants tried to abduct a Japanese journalist and his Afghan colleague in Peshawar as they were on their way to Khyber Agency.
The militants opened fire and wounded the journalist in the failed kidnapping attempt.
The Afghan journalist is currently in hospital in Peshawar and the Japanese journalist was taken to the city of Islamabad for treatment.
This week, a female Canadian journalist was abducted while travelling in the Bannu district of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
Beverly Giesbrecht also known as Khadija Abdul Qahaar was seized at gunpoint as she was gathering material for a documentary. Her whereabouts are unknown.
An unnamed militant source told AKI they are investigating Giesbrecht. It they are convinced that she is a morally upright person and has converted to Islam, as she claims, they will release her, the militant said.
The militant said Atharzadeh's abduction was due to "the arrest of top Al-Qaeda leaders in Iran, for facilitating the US invasion on Iraq through pro-Iran militias and last but not the least for waging the war on the Taliban in Pakistani Khurram agency where Iran provided arms and ammunition to the Shia tribal groups to fight against the Taliban,"
Atharzadeh, who is based at the Iranian Consulate in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar was abducted by gunmen on Thursday.
Atharzadeh is the commercial attache at the consulate and was reported to have been kidnapped by four armed men on his way home in Hayatabad district where the consulate is located.
"More attacks and actions will be carried out against Iranian interests in coming days and we shall settle each and every dispute through negotiations," concluded the militant.
The kidnapping of the diplomat is the second such incident to have occurred recently. Taliban militants are suspected of having kidnapped Afghan Consul General Abdul Khaliq Farahi nearly two months ago and are believed to be still holding him hostage.
Two weeks ago the brother of an Afghan minister was also kidnapped.
On Friday, militants tried to abduct a Japanese journalist and his Afghan colleague in Peshawar as they were on their way to Khyber Agency.
The militants opened fire and wounded the journalist in the failed kidnapping attempt.
The Afghan journalist is currently in hospital in Peshawar and the Japanese journalist was taken to the city of Islamabad for treatment.
This week, a female Canadian journalist was abducted while travelling in the Bannu district of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
Beverly Giesbrecht also known as Khadija Abdul Qahaar was seized at gunpoint as she was gathering material for a documentary. Her whereabouts are unknown.
An unnamed militant source told AKI they are investigating Giesbrecht. It they are convinced that she is a morally upright person and has converted to Islam, as she claims, they will release her, the militant said.
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