Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for December 4, 2022
Newsline: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Mailing ‘Bloody Parcels’ to Embassies Across Europe
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister is accusing Russia of sending letters containing explosives and animal eyes to embassies in six European countries. The Associated Press reports Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko claims “bloody parcels” were received by the Ukrainian embassies in Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia and Italy. Meanwhile, the United States embassy in Madrid, Spain was also on the receiving end of said letters. “We can confirm a suspicious package was received at the US Embassy in Madrid, and are aware of reports of other packages sent to other locations throughout Spain,” the United States embassy told the AP. (https://www.complex.com/life/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-mailing-bloody-parcels-to-embassies-across-europe) The Ukraine’s ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, told the outlet that the embassy fell victim to an explosion caused by the parcels. Though no injuries have been reported, the aforementioned embassies have stepped up their security following the threat.
Newsline: Pakistan has no plans to close embassy in Kabul
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says Pakistan has no plans to close its embassy in Kabul or withdraw its diplomats. (https://www.radio.gov.pk/03-12-2022/no-plan-to-close-embassy-from-kabul-foreign-office) Responding to a media query regarding attack on Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, she said the government is in contact with Afghan interim authorities and enhanced security measures are being taken to protect Pakistani diplomatic personnel and Missions in Afghanistan.
Newsline: US State Department condemns shooting at Pakistan’s embassy in Afghanistan
The U.S. condemned an attack a day earlier on the Pakistani embassy in Afghanistan’s capital, in which a senior Pakistani diplomat escaped unhurt but one of his Pakistani guards was wounded, sending a wave of anger in this Islamic nation. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States condemned the Embassy attack, telling reporters “we offer our sympathies and wish a quick recovery to those affected by the violence”. The United States is “deeply concerned by the attack on a foreign diplomat and we call for a full and transparent investigation,” Price said. The U.S. chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, Karen Decker also condemned the attack on Nizamani in a tweet Saturday. “Outraged at attack on my diplomatic counterpart @PakinAfg, Ubaid Nizamani; I am grateful he is safe & wish a quick recovery to the brave security guard who was injured. I join the call for a swift, thorough and transparent investigation,” Decker wrote. (https://fox59.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-washington-condemns-shooting-at-pakistan-embassy-in-kabul/) Shots were fired at the embassy from a nearby building by an as-yet known assailant or assailants. Shortly after the shooting, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif took to Twitter on Friday, calling the attack an “assassination attempt” against Pakistan’s head of mission in Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani.
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