Islamabad, Feb 10: Pakistan has pulled out nonessential staff and families of embassy officials in Baghdad because of the possibility of American military action against Iraq, a foreign ministry spokesman said today.
``Pakistan has withdrawn, because of the prevailing
situation, the families as well as some nonessential staff
from our embassy in Baghdad,'' spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said.
However, Khan said Pakistani ambassador to Iraq Manzar
Shafiq and a number of other diplomatic staff members were
still working in Baghdad.
He did not say how many officials were being withdrawn
or how many would remain.
The comments seemed to contradict those made earlier
today by foreign minister Khursheed Mahmud Kasuri, who said no
decision had yet been made.
Pakistan, a key American ally, has issued calls for
avoiding war in Iraq and urged Baghdad to cooperate with
United Nations arms inspectors who are looking for banned
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Bureau Report
