ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office said on Sunday the country’s government hoped President Ashraf Ghani would reconsider the decision to recall the Afghan ambassador and other diplomats in Islamabad until Pakistan punished the culprits behind this week’s abduction and assault of the envoy’s daughter.

Silsila Alikhil, 26, was abducted in the middle of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday, held for several hours and brutally attacked, officials in both countries said on Saturday. On Sunday Waheed Omer, the general director of the office of public affairs for the Afghan government, announced that Ghani had recalled Afghan diplomats in Islamabad.

“The decision by the Government of Afghanistan to recall its Ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan is unfortunate and regrettable,” the Pakistani foreign office said, saying the incident involving the ambassador's daughter was being investigated at the highest level on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. 

“The security of the Ambassador, his family and personnel of the Embassy and Consulates of Afghanistan in Pakistan has been further beefed up,” the foreign office added. “The Foreign Secretary met the Ambassador of Afghanistan today, highlighted all the steps taken by the Government in this context, and re-assured him of full cooperation. We hope that the Government of Afghanistan would reconsider its decision.”

A hospital medical report said Alikhil suffered blows to her head, had rope marks on her wrists and legs and was badly beaten. There was a suspicion that she had several broken bones and X-rays were ordered, the report said.

The report also said her abductors held her for over five hours and that she was brought to the hospital in Islamabad by police. No details have been released so far about the abduction itself or the circumstances of her release.

The Afghan foreign ministry had said on Saturday it strongly condemned the “heinous act” and expressed concern for Afghan diplomats and their families in Pakistan. The Afghan foreign ministry in Kabul also summoned Pakistani Ambassador Mansoor Ahmad Khan on Saturday to lodge “a strong protest” over the attack. 

Pakistani interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Sunday the culprits involved in the abduction and assault would be arrested within the next 72 hours.