Islamabad - Pakistan has assured Afghanistan that it is making earnest efforts to recover the Afghan ambassador-designate who was abducted in the north-western city of Peshawar, a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The Afghan diplomat was kidnapped by armed men on Monday after an ambush during which his driver was shot dead. He was returning home in his official vehicle when it was intercepted in the upmarket Hayatabad neighbourhood.

"The government of Pakistan is taking all necessary measures for safe and early recovery of Ambassador-designate Abdul Khaleq Farahi," the statement cited Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as saying during a talk with his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

Islamabad, Sept 23: Pakistan has reportedly assured Afghanistan of taking all “necessary measures” to ensure the safety of its abducted ambassador Abdul Khaliq Farahi in Pakistan.

Islamabad, Sept 23: On Monday, the first working day in Pakistan after Saturday’s hotel blast claiming 60 lives, streets and shopping centres wore a deserted look and fear was still visible on people’s faces.

All major shopping areas, including Aabpara Market, Melody Market, Super Market, Jinnah Super Market and hotels in Blue Area, which used to be lousy with shoppers from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and other suburban areas, gave the look of some “one-horse town”, reported the Daily Times.

London, Sept 23: The recent US’ raids inside Pakistani territory aimed at eliminating suspected terrorists but killed innocent civilians in the action, led to Saturday’s hotel blast in Islamabad killing 60 people, Pakistan's ambassador to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan, has said.

“We hope the US will change policy because this is what is needed,” The Independent quoted Hassan as saying.

Miranshah, Sept 23 : Despite repeated utterances from Pakistan to the US to stop air raids on its territory, unmanned US’ drones were seen hovering over different areas of North Waziristan even on Monday night.

Quoting sources, The News reported that drones flew over Ghulam Khan, Danday, Darpakhel, Hamzoni, Dattakhel, Mir Ali and Razmak along Pak-Afghan border and different areas of North Waziristan including Miranshah.

The sources further said situation was tense in the area amid drones’ flights.

Islamabad, Sept 23 : The Pakistan Army has alleged that a girl was killed on its side of the border after Indian troops fired at its troops at the Line of Control (LoC).

However, terming the charge as ''baseless'', Indian Brigadier Gopala Krishnan Mural said that militants from Pakistan infiltrated into India and triggered a gun-battle that left several of the insurgents dead.

Pakistan Army spokesman Major Murad Khan said the girl has been identified as Rania.