Missing Afghan envoy to Pakistan appears in video
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 3, IRNA – Afghanistan’s ambassador-designate to Pakistan Abdul Khaliq Farahi who went missing in the northwestern city of Peshawar in 2008, has appeared in a video, urging for acceptance of demands of his captors.
A previously unknown militant organisation, Kateeba Salahuddin Ayubi, delivered the videotape of the kidnapped Afghan envoy in Waziritan tribal region claiming responsibility for his capture.
The little-known militant organization is seemed to be the first source to claim responsibility for kidnapping Abdul Khaliq Farahi.
It is the first public statement by the envoy since the 53-year-old diplomat was abducted by gunmen while he was being driven in Hayatabad area by his driver.
His driver Khalid was shot dead by the kidnappers when he tried to resist their bid.
Farahi, hailing from Afghanistan’s western Farah province, served as the Consul General in Quetta after the fall of the Taliban regime.
In April 2002, he was appointed as Consul General in Peshawar and served on the position for six years. In August 2008, he was named as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan. He couldn’t present his credentials and had been kidnapped.
“I am Abdul Khaliq Farahi. Dear listeners, as you know a year and six months ago Mujahideen arrested me from Peshawar. For the past one year and six month I have been spending my days and nights in very critical conditions,” said Farahi, who has been shown dressed in paint with a half-sleeve shirt.
“I appeal to my government and Afghan nation as well as the international community to make their last attempt and save my life. These people (Taliban) have accused me of working with the misled and US representative government of Afghanistan and the punishment of this crime is death sentence.”
After the ambassador recorded his statement, an armed Taliban fighter, standing behind him started recoding his statement in an aggressive tone.
Besides highlighting successes and achievements of ‘mujahideen’, the militant said it was blessing of Allah Almighty that ‘mujahideen’ captured Abdul Khaliq Farahi.
“This man Abdul Khaliq Farahi is an Afghan national. He is in our jail now. He was Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan when captured by mujahideen. Pakistan too is a renegade country and is helping the US as a frontline state,” explained the militant in the video.
He said the Afghan envoy was in their custody for the past one year and half but they did not make it public as they were holding secret talks with (President Hamid) Karzai government.
“We were holding negotiations with the Karzai government and forwarded him our demands for the release of the ambassador."
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