AFGHANISTAN: Anti-Pakistan riots

Pakistan closed its embassy in Kabul (7/8/03) after it was attacked by a crowd protesting alleged incursions by Pakistani forces into Afghanistan. In Kabul, hundreds of Afghan university students broke into the Pakistani Embassy compound today, smashing windows, computers, and televisions. The protesters were quickly evicted by Afghan security forces, who sealed off the mission. Peacekeepers from Kabul's International Security Assistance Force were monitoring the situation, a witness said. Earlier, the crowd of about 3'000 protesters, including some government officials, carried banners and chanted anti-Pakistan slogans near the presidential palace in the city center. Pakistan's ambassador, Rustam Shah Mohmand, accused the Afghan government of doing nothing to thwart the attack. He said the embassy will remain closed until Pakistan receives an apology and compensation for the damage. Mohmand said Afghan President Hamid Karzai incited the protests by warning yesterday against outside interference in Afghan affairs. (Reuters, 7/9/03) RH: At least Kabul university seems to be very much alive.

Ronald Hilton - 7/9/03