US pulls diplomatic staff from Karachi, Lahore amid pro-Iran protests in Pakistan

The United States has ordered non-emergency staff at two Pakistani consulates to leave the country and granted permission for staff to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman as Iran retaliates over US-Israeli raids.The State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to “safety risks”, the US embassy in Islamabad said in a statement on Wednesday.It said there was no change to the embassy’s status.At least 25 people died in weekend protests in Pakistan against the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with hundreds of protesters attempting to storm the consulate in Karachi, the country’s most populous city.Containers are placed for added security on a road leading to the US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Photo: EPAUS Marines opened fire on demonstrators during the storming of the Karachi consulate, two officials said on Monday – a rare use of force at a diplomatic post that could sharply escalate tensions in the country.Citing initial information, the two US officials said it was unclear whether rounds fired by Marines struck or killed anyone. They also did not know whether shots were also fired by others protecting the mission, including private security guards and local police.