The US State Department on Wednesday ordered non-emergency personnel and their family members at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore to leave Pakistan, citing security concerns.
In a statement, the US Mission to Pakistan said the decision was taken due to safety risks. There was no change in the status of the US Embassy in Islamabad, which continues to operate as usual.
The updated advisory pointed to an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran, along with significant disruptions to commercial air travel amid the escalating Middle East conflict. While the United States also maintains a consulate in Peshawar, the travel notice did not specifically reference it.
Since hostilities intensified between Iran, the US and Israel on February 28, the State Department has issued similar departure orders for non-essential staff in several countries across the region, including Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and most recently Cyprus. It has also urged American citizens in multiple Middle Eastern countries to leave due to what it described as serious security risks.
The directive regarding Pakistan follows violent protests on March 1, when demonstrators stormed the US Consulate in Karachi in response to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Eleven people were killed and dozens injured during the unrest.
According to US officials, Marines opened fire after protesters breached the compound’s outer wall, though it remains unclear whether any casualties resulted from the gunfire. Security at US diplomatic facilities is typically handled by private contractors and local law enforcement, and the reported involvement of Marines underscored the gravity of the perceived threat.
Protests the same day also turned deadly in Islamabad, where three people died in clashes between demonstrators and police near the Diplomatic Enclave, which houses the US Embassy. Law enforcement used teargas to disperse crowds attempting to advance toward the compound.
In Lahore, protesters also gathered outside the US Consulate and tried to force entry, but police managed to repel them.
In a separate advisory, the US Mission said the consulate in Peshawar had temporarily suspended operations. It added that the embassy in Islamabad would continue providing routine and emergency consular services, with normal operations resuming there on March 3.
Security has been tightened around US diplomatic facilities, with roads leading to the Karachi consulate sealed off and heavy police deployment in place. Similar security measures were implemented in Lahore and Islamabad.
Due to the disruptions, the consulates in Karachi and Lahore have cancelled all visa and American Citizen Services appointments until further notice.