Suicide attack on Pakistan consulate in Afghanistan leaves 7 people dead

ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (KUNA) -- At least seven Afghan policemen were killed on Wednesday in an attack on the Pakistani Consulate in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city of Nangarhar province, said officials.
Ministry of Interior spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, in a statement confirmed that at least seven policemen were killed and seven others were injured as the siege ended after almost four hours.
A number of policemen killed were reportedly guarding the consulate at the time of the attack. The provincial governor's spokesperson, Attaullah Khogyani, confirming the blast, said that a suicide bomber had tried to join a queue of people seeking visas to Pakistan and blew himself up after being prevented from entering the building. "After the suicide attack, gunmen entered an empty house near the consulate and began firing," he added.
He confirmed that the staff at the Pakistani consulate is safe and no one is hurt.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
The consulate was attacked two days after Islamabad hosted a meeting of representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States to restart a peace process with the Taliban rebels. (end) sbk.rk