Schools and educational institutions across Pakistan were today closed down for a week due to terror threats in the wake of a major offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan tribal region. The decision has been taken in the wake of reports that the Taliban could target educational institutions, especially those located in cantonments, in a move to pressure the government to end the military operation. In the past, the Taliban have targeted English-medium and co-educational schools in the North West Frontier Province. The federal interior ministry has asked provincial governments and authorities in Islamabad to put in place foolproof security arrangements to avert militant attacks.