Afghan consulate official goes missing in Pak's Quetta

Pakistani authorities are trying to trace an official of the Afghan Consulate in Quetta who went missing in the restive Balochistan province, officials said today.
Mohammad Hashim, a Pakistani national of Afghan origin, was working in the passport section of Afghan Consulate in Quetta. He went missing on July 25.
"We are trying our best to locate him," said Khan Wasseh, spokesman of paramilitary Frontier Corp Balochistan, which controls the law and order in the province battered by a series of sectarian and militant attacks in recent months.
Hashim's son Siddiqullah lodged a report with police about his disappearance, saying his father left for office but neither reached there nor came back.

Afghan Consul General Ghulam Mohammed Bahadur confirmed that the official was missing, the Dawn reported.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are under stress due to differences over the opening of Taliban office in tiny Gulf state of Qatar.
But there was thaw in sight after visit of Pakistan national security advisor to Kabul this month.
Karzai is also expected to visit Pakistan in near future to discuss the ties and cooperation.