The German consulate in southern Pakistani city of Karachi has suspended its services for people who are not European Union (EU) citizens, the consulate said on Monday, citing “security concerns.”
The development comes amid a renewed wave of militant violence in the South Asian country, including attacks on foreign nationals and police officials in Karachi.
Unidentified militants on Sunday shot dead a senior counter-terrorism official, while five Japanese workers narrowly escaped a suicide attack in the city in April. No group claimed responsibility for attacks.
“Due to imminent security concerns the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany will remain closed for services of non-EU-citizens until further notice,” the German consulate said in a statement. “Already issued visa for non-EU-citizens can be picked up.”
Aisha Abdul Qayyum, a spokesperson of the German consulate, offered no further details when asked about the nature of the security concerns.