U.S. mission in Lahore closed indefinitely over insufficient security setup

The United States mission in Lahore has been closed for an indefinite period for being susceptible to potential security threat and inability of Pakistani government in providing sufficient security.

All non-emergency staff from the U.S. Consulate in Lahore has been shifted to the Islamabad Embassy, while a few have been called back to the U.S., The Nation reports.

According to the report, there was currently no indication on re-opening the Lahore mission.

The Consulate building at Lahore was not as secure as the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, and hence there was a strong susceptibility of being attacked by terrorists any time, the report added

Earlier, the Pakistani government had not allowed new concrete constructions on the road leading to the Consulate building at Lahore on demand of the U.S. government.

According to the report, the Department of State decided to close its Lahore facility in protest on August 8.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government countered the U.S. argument saying that the road leading to the Consulate houses a number of government and private offices, and too many security checks on the road would affect smooth flow of traffic.