Iranian Diplomat Kidnapped in Northwestern Pakistan

Via VOA -

Unidentified gunmen in Pakistan have abducted an Iranian diplomat after killing his security guard in Peshawar. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad the kidnapping occurred a day after an American aid worker and his local driver were shot dead in the troubled northwestern city.

A senior police officer, Jawad Qamar, told VOA by telephone from Peshawar that the Iranian diplomat, Hashmatullah Attarzadeh, was ambushed as he drove to the consulate in the city.

"He left his home for the consulate. He had a police guard with him. A white car in which there were allegedly three to four armed criminals, they intercepted his car, they fired upon the police guard, killed him and kidnapped the Iranian consul," said Qamar.

The ambush took place a day after unknown gunmen killed an American aid worker and his local driver in Peshawar. The victims were employees of a U.S-based aid organization working on a development project in the region.

Thursday's kidnapping happened in the same area where Afghanistan's ambassador-designate was abducted in September. He is still missing.