ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday resumed its regular operation in its consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.
In August this year, Islamabad temporarily closed its consulate in Jalalabad over alleged interference by the provincial governor and a lack of security.
Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul said in a statement on Sunday that Islamabad decided to resume its operations at the Jalalabad consulate after assurances by the Afghan government that all necessary and required security would be provided to the Consulate General as per the obligation of the Afghan Government under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963.
Pakistan’s Consulate General in Jalalabad which was closed on 30th August 2018 will resume its visa operations, after assurances by the Afghan government that all necessary and required security will be provided to the Consulate Generalz 1/2
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) October 7, 2018
All visa applicants in Jalalabad and surrounding areas within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General could now apply for visa with the Consulate General with effect from Monday 8th October 2018. 2/2
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) October 7, 2018
In November 2017, a Pakistani diplomat was shot dead in Jalalabad outside his residence and Islamabad has been raising its concerns about the security of its diplomatic mission and staff in Afghanistan.
The closure of the consulate was the latest incident of strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
However, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Afghanistan on Sept. 15 to set out the contours of the new Pakistan Government’s future engagement with Afghanistan to build a mutually beneficial relationship and to enhance cooperation between the two countries.