Afghan consul kidnapped after gunmen open fire : Pakistan

The Afghan Consul General in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Peshawar was abducted by gunmen from an upscale residential area, while his driver was killed, a senior police official confirmed.   Abdul Khaliq Farahi was leaving his residence in Hayatabad, when armed men, intercepted his car, killed his driver and snatched him away. “Mr. Farahi has been abducted by unknown gunmen and we have launched the search”, Inspector General of Police. The sprawling walled residential Hayatabad adjoins Khyber tribal region that has recently seen an uptik in militant activity. It was not immediately known who was responsible for the abduction of Farahi but the incident is certainly going to bring huge embarrassment to the government. The Afghan Consulate in Peshawar has confirmed the abduction of its principal officer. Farahi was recently nominated as Afghanistan’s ambassador designate to Pakistan and he was expected to take charge of his office next week.