The Saudi Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday received an e-mail threat purportedly from Al-Qaeda, threatening to target Saudi vital installations and interests in Pakistan, an embassy official said. The targets include the Saudi embassy, consulates and Saudi Arabian Airlines, said Ali Awaad Asiri , the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan. He said the embassy was taking the threat seriously and had informed the Pakistan authorities, which responded promptly by stepping up security at all major Saudi facilities in Pakistan. “For the time being the embassy has no plans to evacuate the Saudis in Pakistan,” Assiri said. “But if the need arises the embassy has a plan in hand to evacuate all the Saudi citizens and students in Pakistan.” There are about 1,250 Saudi residents in Pakistan, including students, military staffers receiving training and diplomatic staff. Asiri said a security committee chaired by the head of the Saudi diplomatic mission in the Embassy has been formed to coordinate on security cover for the Saudis in Pakistan. Additionally, the embassy has sent out letters advising the Saudis to be cautious, avoid crowded areas and contact the embassy in case of any emergency. Diplomats at the embassy have been assigned round-the-clock to answer citizens' calls. A source at the Saudia Airlines Office in Pakistan said Saudia has not made any changes in its flight schedules “but it has beefed up inspection procedures.” A Pakistan Interior ministry source said security measures at all the major Saudi facilities have been reinforced. “The authorities are also probing the nature and the source of the e-mail.” The Pakistani Foreign Ministry is coordinating with all authorities concerned to deal with the threat, a source at the ministry said. The embassy had previously received threats about explosives planted inside its premises but they all turned out to be fake.
