The militant Islamic State organization reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack on Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul two days prior, according to claims that the Foreign Office (FO) was “verifying the validity of reports” related on Sunday.
The Afghan embassy was attacked on Friday, with Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani as a particular target. Nizamani remained unharmed, but his guard suffered a serious injury.
The Khorasan branch of the Islamic State (IS-K) claimed responsibility for the assault on Sunday, indicating that the Pakistani diplomat was the intended target.
The statement, posted on social media in Arabic, said two armed assailants attacked the Pakistani envoy and his guards with “medium weapons and snipers”, while they were in the embassy’s courtyard.
Responding to the claims, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan had “seen reports that IS-KP has accepted responsibility for the terrorist attack”.
We are confirming the accuracy of these reports independently and in consultation with the Afghan government, she said.
“This notwithstanding, the terrorist attack is yet another reminder of the threat that terrorism poses to peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. We must act resolutely with all our collective might to defeat this menace,” she said. She continued by saying that Pakistan’s resolve to fight terrorism is unwavering.
