The Hindu : U.S. diplomats set to leave Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 24, 2002

International

International

U.S. diplomats set to leave Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MARCH 23. The families of all United States diplomats and non-essential diplomatic staff are getting ready to leave Pakistan after Washington decided to evacuate them "after a careful review of the U.S. security posture in Pakistan".

The U.S. action is seen as a response to last week's church attack in which five persons including a U.S. diplomat's wife and daughter were killed.

The decision has perplexed political and diplomatic observers here. It leaves scope for several interpretations.

After the killing of the American reporter, Daniel Pearl and a series of incidents involving sectarian killings in different parts of Pakistan as also the attack on the church, the U.S. might have come to the conclusion that the extremist elements in Pakistan are preparing to target American interests The decision could also be interpreted as "over-reaction and panic".

A question being raised in diplomatic circles is whether such an action would not undermine the authority of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, especially when he is engaged in a battle against the extremist elements within Pakistan.

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