WASHINGTON, March 22: The United States on Friday ordered the departure of all non-essential personnel and their families from its posts in Pakistan, less than a week after two Americans were among five people killed in a church bombing.

State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said that officials had decided after a careful review “to move to an ordered departure of all dependents and non-emergency personnel at our embassy in Islamabad and our consulates in Pakistan.”

“The embassy will identify non-emergency personnel on a case-by-case basis.”

“We once again would remind Americans ... that they should maintain a strong security posture, be aware of their surroundings, avoid crowds and demonstrations, keep a low profile.”

Secretary of State Colin Powell assured President Pervez Musharraf in a telephone call from Mexico, where he is travelling with President George W. Bush, that the move did not reflect a lack of confidence in Pakistan’s ability to protect Americans, Reeker said.

“We believe that the war against terrorism in Pakistan is far from over and that we will be able to carry it on with greater focus if our dependents are not present at U.S. facilities there.

“Pakistan itself has suffered from terrorism and understands this,” said Reeker.

The US embassy in Islamabad and the American consulates in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi will remain open though they closed for normal business for security reasons on Friday for the weekend, Reeker said.

The ordered departure is a measure which gives concerned personnel no choice to remain in Pakistan. Last September, Pakistan-based diplomats were offered an authorized departure, which meant they could voluntarily stay at their posts.

There was no indication of any new immediate threat to Americans in Pakistan but US diplomatic posts around the world have been on high alert since the Sept 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Americans have also been told to remain on their guard following the abduction and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan.—AFP