The United States pulled all non-emergency staff from its consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore, citing "specific threats" amid a worldwide alert over Al-Qaeda attacks.
The United States pulled all non-emergency staff from its consulate in the Pakistani city of Lahore, citing "specific threats" amid a worldwide alert over Al-Qaeda attacks.
"On August 8, 2013, the Department of State or
dered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel from the US Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan," a State department statement said.
"The Department of State ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the US Consulate in Lahore.”
"The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan."
However, Meghan Gregoris, spokeswoman for the US embassy in Islamabad, said the evacuation was not linked to a terror threat that prompted the closure of 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa.
"We received information regarding a threat to our consulate in Lahore. As a precautionary measure we have undertaken a drawdown for all but emergency personnel in Lahore," she told AFP.
