Terror attacks: UK to shift its Pak visa office to Dubai

The British High Commission in Islamabad is planning to move its visa office to Dubai apparently due to security concerns following a string of terror attacks.

The British High Commission in the Pakistan capital is planning to move its visa office to Dubai apparently due to security concerns following a string of terror attacks in Islamabad.

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Plans for the move had been in the pipeline for some time due to threats by Al Qaida and Taliban against Western citizens and installations in Pakistan.

The process was expedited after the recent suicide car bombing outside the Danish embassy in June, diplomatic sources told the Daily Times newspaper.

British High Commission spokesman Aidan Liddle said that there was a proposal to move some of the visa section's administrative staff to the United Arab Emirate but denied that the move was due to security concerns.

Liddle said it was an "administrative issue" and should only be viewed as such.

The move is part of a plan to create visa hubs in various parts of the world where visa applications could be processed.