U.S. consulate in Karachi closed

The U.S. consulate in the restive port city of Karachi was closed yesterday because of a security threat, a senior U.S. official said.

"The U.S. consulate has been closed for security reasons," Linda Cheatham told Gulf News over phone from Islamabad. She refused to give any other details or say when the consulate will re-open.

The consulate staff were sent home when they arrived at work yesterday morning and have been asked to wait for further instructions, a consulate employee said on condition of anonymity.

A portion of Abdullah Haroon Road, which was opened for traffic early yesterday, has again been closed. Pakistani government sources said U.S. consulate officials had objected to the re-opening of the road which had been shut since June 14 when a car bomb exploded outside its premises killing 12 Pakistanis and wounding more than 50 others.

Since then, security has been at an all-time high not just at the U.S. consulate, but also at other Western diplomatic missions and their interests.

"The re-opening of the road has been taken as a serious threat because terrorists blew up the van packed with explosives here," a Pakistani official said.

The consulate had reopened after the attack, but was providing services to Americans only. It was not immediately known whether the U.S. officials in Karachi would be taken out of the city.

Last month, France closed its consulate building in Karachi and moved its diplomats and staff to the more heavily-guarded British deputy high commission. U.S. and Pakistani authorities refused to comment on the nature of threat.

The whole security position is being reassessed, the U.S. consulate official said. "It is too early to say when the consulate will reopen."

Hardliners are outraged by their government's support to the U.S.-led war against terrorism in Afghanistan and are trying to target not just Western interest in Pakistan, but also senior Pakistani officials.

An unknown group Harakatul Mujahideen Al Alami, which is a breakaway faction of the outlawed Harakatul Mujahideen, masterminded the attack at the U.S. consulate attack.