US Orders Non-Emergency Staff to Leave Karachi, Lahore Consulates Amid Security Concerns
By Sardar Burhan :
The United States Department of State on Wednesday ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families from US consulates in Karachi and Lahore, citing security risks.
In a statement, the United States Embassy Islamabad said the move applied to non-essential US government employees and family members posted at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi. It clarified that there had been no change to the operational status of the embassy in Islamabad.
Regional Escalation
The development comes amid the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States and Iran, which has intensified tensions across the region. Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks targeting what it described as American interests and bases in Gulf states.
Several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were killed in the strikes. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard vowed retaliation, declaring that the attacks “will not go unpunished”. Six US military personnel were also reported killed during the conflict.
Protests and Violence in Karachi
Following Khamenei’s death, protests erupted in several countries, including Pakistan. In Karachi, demonstrators breached the outer wall of the United States Consulate Karachi compound and vandalised property.
Firing during the unrest reportedly left at least 11 people dead. A day earlier, Reuters reported that US Marines opened fire during the storming of the consulate over the weekend.
Citing US officials, the report said it was unclear whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. It also remained uncertain whether shots were fired by other personnel securing the mission, including private security contractors or local police.
Visa Services Suspended
Separately, the US mission in Pakistan announced the suspension of visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) operations.
Initially, all visa and ACS appointments scheduled for March 2 at facilities in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore were cancelled. The suspension was later extended through Friday, March 6.
In a notice to applicants, the US mission said routine visa services would remain paused during this period. Affected applicants are expected to receive further guidance on rescheduling their appointments.
Officials did not disclose specific details regarding the security concerns but said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure amid ongoing unrest.
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