Islamabad/ N.Delhi, April 10
Security was beefed up in Islamabad on Friday following reports of an impending surge of suicide attacks by the Taliban. In view of the security threat, the embassy of the United States suspended consular services while offices of the United Nations agencies were also shut down.

There was panic in the capital as several private schools also suspended classes. The office of the Asian Development Bank too remained closed.

Amidst unconfirmed reports that the Taliban planned a march to Islamabad and threats by Baitullah Mehsud to carry out more suicide attacks, securitymen took up positions at several important installations in the Pakistani capital.

Chinese news agency Xinhua reported an exchange of fire late on Friday evening near a police training academy in Lahore. Geo TV quoted eyewitness accounts saying gunshots were being heard from a distance of half a kilometre. But official sources later claimed that the gunshots came from security personnel who had opened fire following what they presumed was suspicious movement by people.

The confusion in Pakistan was underlined by the claim of Lahore police chief Pervez Rathore that police had strong evidence of Indian involvement in the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers last month. He also claimed that an Indian had been arrested by the police.

There was a retraction later in the day when police claimed that “pro-India Afghans” and not Indians, had carried out the attack on cricketers.

The allegation failed to cut much ice in either country. While Pakistani media comments questioned the conclusion without any evidence on record, the Indian Prime Minister dismissed the allegation “ with the contempt it deserves”. — PTI