UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon on Monday strongly condemned attacks on two UN workers in south-western Pakistan earlier in the day, and expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the UN worker killed in the attack.
He also called for the immediate and safe release of the top UN official kidnapped by gunmen in the incident.
Ban made the condemnation in a statement issued by his spokesperson after gunmen kidnapped John Solecki, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Quetta, a city in southwest Pakistan, and killed his driver, Syed Hashim.
The secretary-general "condemns, in the strongest terms, attacks on UN staff who serve the neediest people around the world, " the statement said. "Such acts are aimed, not only against UN personnel, but also against those they serve selflessly and with dedication."

"The secretary-general expresses his deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Hashim, and calls for the immediate and safe release of Mr. Solecki," the statement said.
Gunmen ambushed Solecki's vehicle, which was marked with UN insignia, and opened fire, wounding the driver who later died of his injuries. The attack took place while the UN staff were travelling to work in the capital of Baluchiistan Province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, according to reports from Pakistan.