US withdraws diplomats from Lahore

 "The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to a terrorist threat against the U.S. consulate," CNN reported quoting senior US officials.

"We have picked up what we regard as a threat worthy of taking this action," a senior U.S. official told the American news channel.

The US State Department on Thursday ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the consulate in Lahore.

It also asked U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan.

"The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated April 9, 2013, to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan,"  the US State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

"On August 8, 2013, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore, Pakistan. The Department of State ordered this drawdown due to specific threats concerning the U.S. Consulate in Lahore," it said.

"The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan. Across the country, terrorist attacks frequently occur against civilian, government, and foreign targets," the Department said.