The United States today ordered the departure of all non-essential diplomats and their families from Pakistan, less than a week after two Americans were among five people killed in a church bombing.
The US State Department's deputy spokesman said the decision to order the "departure of all non-emergency personnel and their dependants" came after a careful review of the US security posture in Pakistan.
US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell assured President Mr Pervez Musharraf from a telephone call from Mexico, where he is travelling with US President Bush, that the move did not reflect a US judgment on his government's security efforts, the spokesman said.
The US embassy in Islamabad and the American consulates in the country will remain open though they closed for normal business for security reasons for the weekend.
There was no indication of any new immediate threat to Americans in Pakistan.
AFP