French embassy advises its citizens to leave Pakistan over 'serious threats'

PARIS (Reuters) – France has advised its citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday.

The diplomatic sources said that a message had been sent overnight to French citizens and companies following threats.

The sources said the embassy sent a message to French residents in Pakistan recommending that French nationals leave the country and French companies shut down activities temporarily “due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan”.

However, the embassy is not being shut and it would continue work with a limited staff.

Last year, TLP ended a similar protest against France only after the government signed a deal agreeing to endorse a boycott of French products and making a move in parliament to expel French ambassador. It had this week demanded the envoy be expelled.