Foreign envoys asked to limit activities in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, October 14 (Internews): With a surge in suicide bombings in the country, the Pakistan government has asked all the foreign diplomats based in Islamabad and other cities not to leave their working stations and avoid travel to other parts of the country without informing the foreign ministry.

“The foreign diplomats in capital city and other parts of the country have been asked to restrain their movements and travel to other cities and towns only in case of urgency and that too after informing the foreign ministry,” said a senior official here Tuesday.

He said that apart from foreign diplomats, the foreigners working with different organisations have also been conveyed the same piece of advice as a part of foolproof security cover that the government is trying to provide to the citizens of other countries.

According to the official, the fresh advice by the government to the foreign diplomats is the result of intelligence reports by law enforcement agencies that terrorists could target the foreigners. One other reason of the government move is the recent kidnapping of designated Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Khaliq Farahi in Peshawar, the official added.

When contacted, another official said that the foreign diplomats whether they are stationed in Islamabad or other cities are also worried about their security and they had conveyed their concerns in this regard to the Pakistani government.

He said that some foreign missions have closed down their visa sections and new travel advisories have also been issued by their governments asking the diplomats to opt for maximum precautionary measures.

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