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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Iran envoy abducted in Pakistan | Iran envoy abducted in Pakistan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gunmen have kidnapped a diplomat from Iran and killed his guard in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, police say. | Gunmen have kidnapped a diplomat from Iran and killed his guard in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, police say. |
| The Iranian diplomat was said to be the commercial attache of the consulate. | The Iranian diplomat was said to be the commercial attache of the consulate. |
| The incident happened a day after an American aid worker and his driver were shot dead as they travelled to work in a suburb of the city. | The incident happened a day after an American aid worker and his driver were shot dead as they travelled to work in a suburb of the city. |
| Violence has surged in the north-west in recent months with a wave of attacks blamed on Islamist militants. | Violence has surged in the north-west in recent months with a wave of attacks blamed on Islamist militants. |
| A police officer told the AFP news agency that the diplomat was travelling to the consulate in Peshawar when the gunmen attacked his car. | A police officer told the AFP news agency that the diplomat was travelling to the consulate in Peshawar when the gunmen attacked his car. |
| "The attackers sprayed bullets, forcing the car to stop and then dragged out the diplomat while his police guard was killed," Banaras Khan said. | "The attackers sprayed bullets, forcing the car to stop and then dragged out the diplomat while his police guard was killed," Banaras Khan said. |
| Worsening security | Worsening security |
| The gunmen took away the diplomat in a separate vehicle, another policeman said. | The gunmen took away the diplomat in a separate vehicle, another policeman said. |
| Authorities have cordoned off the city's main road and are trying to trace the diplomat. | Authorities have cordoned off the city's main road and are trying to trace the diplomat. |
| In a similar incident two months ago, unknown gunmen kidnapped Afghan consul-general, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, from the same locality after killing his driver. Mr Farahi is still missing. | In a similar incident two months ago, unknown gunmen kidnapped Afghan consul-general, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, from the same locality after killing his driver. Mr Farahi is still missing. |
| On Tuesday, American aid worker Stephen Vance and his driver were killed just outside their office in the University Town area in Peshawar. It is still not clear who the attackers were. | |
| Mr Vance worked for Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) International, which is working to implement US-funded projects to help develop the troubled tribal belt. | |
| Areas close to Peshawar - the biggest city in north-west Pakistan - are known to be Taleban and al-Qaeda strongholds. | Areas close to Peshawar - the biggest city in north-west Pakistan - are known to be Taleban and al-Qaeda strongholds. |
| The region has been hit by several bombings and suicide attacks recently. | The region has been hit by several bombings and suicide attacks recently. |
| On Tuesday, a suicide bomber walked up to the gate of a stadium in Peshawar and blew himself up. | On Tuesday, a suicide bomber walked up to the gate of a stadium in Peshawar and blew himself up. |
| The attack happened as the governor of North-West Frontier Province left after a sports tournament. | The attack happened as the governor of North-West Frontier Province left after a sports tournament. |
| He was unhurt but at least one man was killed and three people were injured. | He was unhurt but at least one man was killed and three people were injured. |
| The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that the security situation across Pakistan has steadily worsened over the past few years, with Taleban militants holding sway over a large stretch of North-West Frontier Province. | The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that the security situation across Pakistan has steadily worsened over the past few years, with Taleban militants holding sway over a large stretch of North-West Frontier Province. |
| But our correspondent says attacks on foreigners in Pakistan are rare. Across the border in Afghanistan aid workers and other foreigners have increasingly been targeted in recent months. | But our correspondent says attacks on foreigners in Pakistan are rare. Across the border in Afghanistan aid workers and other foreigners have increasingly been targeted in recent months. |
| Gunmen attacked the car of a US diplomat in Peshawar in August, but she was unhurt. | Gunmen attacked the car of a US diplomat in Peshawar in August, but she was unhurt. |