2 abducted Pak diplomatic officials arrive in Pakistan

Two abducted diplomatic officials of Pakistan's consulate in Afghanistan today arrived in Islamabad after they were rescued in an operation conducted by the Afghan security forces, the Foreign Office here said.
The officials, posted at Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad, were abducted on June 16 while travelling from Jalalabad to Torkham border crossing, the Foreign Office said.
"The two diplomatic officials in Jalalabad, who were safely recovered, yesterday, from their abductors by Afghan security forces have arrived in Islamabad today," it said.
The officials and their families have expressed their profound gratitude to the Afghan Government for the efforts in their safe recovery.

They also thanked the Government of Pakistan for consistent efforts to seek their release. It was, however, not officially announced who had abducted them or any ransom was paid to release them.
"(Afghanistan) President Ashraf Ghani personally phoned Pakistan's Charge d'affaires in Kabul to inform that the Afghan security forces had recovered the two Pakistani officials in a security operation," it said.

The officials were handed over to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua talked to Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai and conveyed Pakistan's deep gratitude to the Afghan Government for safe recovery of the two abducted diplomatic officials.

Jalalabad is the regional hub in eastern Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan.
The Taliban and militants linked to the ISIS operate in eastern Afghanistan.