Protest staged over Afghan Market raid in Peshawar

KABUL to reinstate the flag and apologies over the incident.

Peshawar police earlier brought down the Afghanistan national flag from the market but Afghan Ambassador in Pakistan hoisted it again.

According to protesters, Afghan Market or Afghanistan National Bank is the property of Afghanistan but Pakistani officials and police recently tried to usurp it.

Afghan Embassy in Islamabad earlier warned to close Consulate General in Peshawar if the flag was downed again. The Embassy earlier closed down the diplomatic mission in Peshawar to protest to move.

Farid Selani, head of the Afghanistan National Interest Support Group, headed a protest in front of Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul, and said Afghan Market was Afghanistan’s property and paid taxes for years.

“We condemn this undiplomatic move from Pakistan in strong words. Pakistan don’t have the right to remove our national flag from our property.”

Mohammad Asif Akbari, head of the Afghanistan Development Network, said: “Afghan Market is our property and this will remain ours despite restrictions from Pakistan.”

They asked Pakistan to respect Afghanistan’s national interest, identity and seek apology from Afghans after this action.

A resolution was passed at the end which termed attack on Afghan market against diplomatic norms an attack on the friendship of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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