Diplomats advised to limit their movement in Pakistan

With the sudden spurt in suicide attacks by militants in Pakistan, diplomats have been asked to limit their movement following intelligence agency warning of more strikes aimed at high-value targets.

Pakistan has also put its airports, including Lahore and Karachi on high alert a day after a suicide attack on Islamabad airport killed one and injured several security men.

Diplomats in Karachi and Islamabad are not being allowed to move out of the specified areas where they live, the Daily Times on Wednesday reported citing intelligence sources.

The militants have planned to target hotels and buildings commonly used by VIPs in retaliation for military operations in Pakistan's restive South Waziristan.

According to another intelligence report, the police are on the look out for some militants who have moved into Rawalpindi with explosive material.

Apart from the airport, security at all sensitive spots and foreign missions in the city has been beefed up, CCPO Azhar Ali Farooqui told the daily.

All VIP passes, and other temporary passes used for entry into the airport lounge have been cancelled with immediate effect. Also, security at the airport and its surrounding areas, especially in the parking areas, has been beefed up.

The strike at the airport on Tuesday was the second suicide bombing in Islamabad since January 26 and is bound to raise fears that Pakistans war against Islamist militants in remote mountains on the Afghan border has spread to the relatively peaceful capital.