ISLAMABAD: Pakistan`s embassy in Kabul came under attack on Friday, leaving one security guard critically injured, the Foreign Office said.

According to a statement released by the FO, the target was Head of Mission Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani,who remained unhurt in the attack.

The FO `strongly condemned` the attack, but added the embassy would continue to function normally and there were no plans to withdraw diplomats from Kabul.

The Afghan chargé d`affaires was also summoned to the foreign ministry to formally protest over the attack.According to an official, Mr Nizamani was walking in Pakistan mission`s lawn in Kabul`s Kart-i-Parwan neighbourhood when terrorists fired at him.

The shots hit a security guard, identified as Sepoy Israr Mohammad, who was `critically injured` while attempting to save Mr Nizamani, according to the FO.

Mohammad, who was hit by two bullets, was shifted to a hospital and later moved to Peshawar via helicopter.

An Afghan Taliban source said `multiple attackers` were involved in the attacl( carried out from a nearby building. One of the suspected attackers was reportedly arrested and two weapons were recovered, the source added.

Mr Nizamani has been in Kabul for less than a month since he took over the charge as head of mission, replacing former ambassador Mansoor Ahmed Khan on November 4.

Later on Friday, the FO conveyed `deep concern and anguish` over the attack to Afghan Chargé d`Affaires Sardar Ahmad Khan Shakeeb and said the attack was a `serious security lapse`.

Mr Shakeeb was told that the security and protection of Pakistan`s diplomatic mission and personnel was Afghan interim government`s responsibility FO called for arresting the attackers and bringing them to justice.

Condemnations President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari and Afghanistan have condemned the assassination attempt on Mr Nizamani.

Meanwhile, the Afghan foreign ministry also condemned the `failed attack`. In a statement, the ministry said `malicious actors` will not be allowed to pose a threat to the security of diplomatic missions in Kabul. `Security agencies will investigate this incident seriously. After identifying the perpetrators, they will be punished according to law.` `Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns the attempted shooting and failed attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul,` the ministry`s spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on Twitter.

President Arif Alvi has called the attack a `matter of concern,` according to APP. `[The] attack on a diplomatic mission is a matter of concern. I strongly condemn it,` the president said.

He also prayed for the recovery of the injured security guard.

While condemning the assassination attempt, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called for an immediate inquiry. `I strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on Head of Mission, Kabul,` he said in a tweet.

`I demand immediate investigation and action against perpetrators of this heinous act.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also called Mr Nizamani and expressed solidarity. `Spoken with my Head of Mission in Kabul @ubaidniz. Whom earlier survived an assassination attempt. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms,` he said in a tweet. `The safety & security of our diplomats are of fundamental importance. We salute bravery of Sepoy Israr & pray for his swift recovery.

Various diplomatic missions, including the UN, have demanded the Afghan government ensure diplomats` safety.

Twitter account hacked In a separate development, the of ficial Twitter account of Pakistan`s consulate in the Afghan city of Kandahar was `hacked`, Consul General Tariq Ali said on Friday, after the account posted tweets about the temporary closure of the mission.

`Dear all! Official account of the Consulate General of Pakistan Kandahar was hacked a while ago which was immediately recovered. Unsolicited tweets have been deleted... The matter is being reported to Twitter,` the consul general said in a statement.

Abdul Moiz Malik in Karachi also contributed to this report