Western embassies receive threat parcels in Pakistan: Police

Police in the Pakistani capital on Thursday said several Western embassies had received parcels containing a mysterious poisonous powder and a warning against the reopening of NATO supply routes to Afghanistan that were closed nearly six months ago.

"Parcels containing about 0.5 grams of poisonous materials were received by the missions of Britain, Australia and France," Islamabad Police chief Bin Yamin Khan told reporters.

The parcels were sent to the Western embassies from Hyderabad in southern Sindh province on May 14, he said.

"Police are investigating the matter," he said.

A police officer said the parcels contained a warning against the reopening of supply lines for NATO forces in Afghanistan, which were closed in November after a cross-border air strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

"There was a three-line note that NATO supplies must not be restored," the police officer said.

The parcels contained a "minute quantity" of a black powder. "The powder is not explosive," the officer said.

Police sent to the powder to a state-run laboratory for tests.

The officer said police learnt of the parcels after the embassies contacted the Secretariat Police Station, which is responsible for security within the diplomatic enclave.

The British High Commission’s spokesperson confirmed that the mission had received a parcel containing a mysterious powder. He too said the powder was not explosive.

The Pakistan government has indicated it is close to reopening the NATO supply routes and a formal announcement is expected in the next few days.