Diplomatic enclave in Peshawar

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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has asked the Foreign Office to approach diplomatic missions and United Nations agencies for setting up an enclave in Peshawar to cope with the security situation, according to sources.

It is learnt that the provincial government has serious reservations over offices of foreign missions, UN and other donor agencies, working in rented buildings in the residential colonies.

According to an official communiqué the provincial government explained that terrorists were targeting every sensitive installation including infrastructure and personnel of diplomatic missions to create atmosphere of fear.

An official source said that it was a complex issue. It was becoming very difficult for the law enforcement agencies to provide security to scattered offices of foreign missions and donor agencies in residential areas, he added.Three countries Afghanistan, America and Iran have diplomatic missions in the Cantonment and University Town while British High Commission has taken a bungalow on rent whereas various UN agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other donor organisations have also rented out houses in the University Town.

The law enforcement agencies had closed roads and streets in the provincial capital for the last few years in those areas where foreign missions and other offices exist. The closure of roads has been causing inconvenience for general public.

Official sources said that there was no specified area in the provincial capital to accommodate all foreign missions while the existing arrangements had visible location disadvantages that had been exploited by terrorists.

They said that the matter had been discussed with the representatives of foreign missions and donor agencies and it was decided to establish a diplomatic enclave atan appropriate area in the city.

Sources said that a site was identified for the proposed diplomatic enclave near motorway and all terms and conditions were discussed at a high level meeting.

However, they said, the matter was put in cold storage.

`We have asked Foreign Office to approach foreign missions and UN agencies to work out modalities with the provincial government,` said an official.The official pointed out that local people had also reservations over opening of foreign missions in residential colonies. People had taken the matter to the court, he added. The apex court had also issued directives about shifting of those offices from residential areas.

Officials said that offices of foreign missions and UN agencies operating in residential areas had been secured by blocking main thoroughfares. Once those blockades were lifted pursuant to court orders it would be very difficult to provide proper security to those offices, they added.