US evacuates non-emergency staff from Lahore consulate

Washington: US has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to a terrorist threat against the U. consulate, Geo News reported

The State Department issued an "ordered departure" for all of its diplomats in Lahore Thursday, except for a handful of emergency personnel. The diplomats were moved to Islamabad, the nation's capital, officials said.

A travel warning issued by the State Department said the department "ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the US Consulate in Lahore" and warned U.S. citizens against travel to Pakistan.

"The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan," the travel warning said.

It was unclear whether the latest threat to the consulate was related to a current threat against US facilities and personnel that prompted the United States to close diplomatic posts throughout the Middle East, Asia and Africa.