2003 attack on the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul

{{Short description|Attack by Afghan protestors on the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul, Afghanistan}}

{{Location map |Afghanistan

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The 2003 attack on the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul occurred when up to 500 Afghan protesters overran the embassy of Pakistan on 9 July 2003.{{cite news|last=Staff desk|title=Pakistan mission attacked; Karzai offers regrets|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2003/07/09/top1.htm|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=Dawn Area Studies|date=9 July 2003}} It was the second major attack since 1995, when the embassy was also assaulted by Afghan protesters.

Attack

The prior demonstration and protests against the alleged border incursions by Pakistan Armed Forces culminated in the attack and ransacking of the premises. The protesters shattered windows, broke down doors, and set the Pakistan flag on fire.{{cite news|last=NEW YORK TIMES NEWS SERVICE|title=Afghan protesters loot Pakistani embassy in Kabul|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/07/09/afghan-protesters-loot-pakistani-embassy-in-kabul/|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=10 July 2003}} No one was injured.{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Pakistan envoy meets Karzai|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2003/07/09/top11.htm|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=DAWN Areas, 2003|date=9 July 2003}} The High Commissioner Rustam Shah Mohmand of Pakistan accused the Afghan government of being unable to police its own capital, demanding compensation and announcing the embassy would remain closed.{{cite news|last=Todd Pitman, The Associated Press|title=Anti-Pakistan protesters raid embassy in Afghanistan's capital|url=http://www.semissourian.com/story/113798.html|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=semissourian|date=9 July 2003|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061012/http://www.semissourian.com/story/113798.html|url-status=dead}} After the incident, Afghan President Hamid Karzai officially apologised for the rampage and made a personal apology during a 25-minute conversation, stating that no such incident would happen again.{{cite news|last=NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , KABUL|title=Afghan protesters attack Pakistani Embassy in Kabul|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/07/10/2003058794|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=Taipai Times|date=10 July 2003}}

At approximately 9:30 AM, 500 protesters chanting "Anti-Pakistan slogans" descended on the Pakistan High Commission building.{{cite news|last=DAVID ROHDE|title=Hundreds of Afghans Attacked the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/world/hundreds-of-afghans-attacked-the-pakistan-embassy-in-kabul.html|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=9 July 2003}} Testimony of nearby Western diplomats and staff revealed that Afghan officials were aware of the protest, though they apparently assigned no extra security.{{cite news|last=Staff|title=Afghan protest swarms into the Pakistan Embassy|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-07-09/news/0307090313_1_pakistan-embassy-pakistani-tribal-areas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215558/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-07-09/news/0307090313_1_pakistan-embassy-pakistani-tribal-areas|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2013|access-date=9 August 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=9 July 2003}}