Efforts underway to release Iranian diplomat

Tehran, Nov 17, IRNA Iran is making massive efforts for the safe recovery of an Iranian
diplomat kidnapped in Pakistan on November 13, senior official in
Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Iran's Economic attache in Pakistan, Heshmatollah Attarzadeh Niaki,
was captured by unknown gunmen while he was on his way to Iran's
Consulate in the northwestern city of Peshawar in Pakistan's Frontier
Province last Thursday.

The diplomat's driver was killed in the attack and Attarzadeh was
taken to an unknown place by the attackers.

"Since the beginning of the incident, massive efforts have been made
by Iranian officials in Tehran, Islamabad and Peshawar to contact
local officials," Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi told
reporters at his weekly press conference.

He added that further measures have been made to guarantee security of
Iranian diplomats in Pakistan after Attarzadeh's incident.

Qashqavi expressed hope that the current efforts of the Iranian and
Pakistani officials would lead to the safe release of the diplomat.


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