Britain recalls diplomats over Pakistan security fears

Britain is to recall some of its diplomats from Pakistan because of security concerns.

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who plans to visit South Asia next week to try to ease tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir, said many of the British diplomats and their families and staff members will leave Pakistan soon.

Other Britons are being advised to consider leaving the country, or to cancel plans to travel there, Straw said.

He said terrorist threats from Islamic extremists have prompted the diplomatic withdrawal. The Foreign Office said his announcement was not "directly" linked to the threat of war between South Asia's arch enemies.

Like the United States, Britain has generated hostility from some Muslim extremists in Pakistan for sending forces to Afghanistan to drive the Taliban government and Osama bin Laden out of the country, which neighbours Pakistan.

No diplomatic withdrawals from India were announced.

Mr Straw said yesterday that growing tensions over Kashmir make the possibility of war between India and Pakistan "real and very disturbing." He also said: "This is a crisis the world cannot ignore.

"This is potentially the most serious conflict the world could face at the moment, more serious even than that in the Middle East."

Since gaining independence in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir, which is divided between them. In the last week, cross-border shelling in the northern territory has killed dozens of people.