US orders most officials out of Lahore, Pakistan

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department is ordering nonemergency government personnel to leave the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan.

A U.S. official said the departure has been ordered because of a threat specific to the Lahore mission. The official said the action was a precautionary measure and was not  related to the recent closures of several U.S. diplomatic posts in the Muslim world.

The U.S. official was not authorized to discuss the order by name and requested anonymity. The personnel drawdown in Lahore was first reported by CNN.

In a travel warning issued Thursday night, the State Department advised American citizens to defer all nonessential travel to Pakistan. Officials say the presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout that country.