Pakistan Deploys Troops, Imposes Curfew Amid Protests Over Iran’s Supreme Leader’s Death
GILGIT, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani authorities have deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu following violent protests sparked by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent U.S.-Israeli strikes. The unrest has resulted in at least 22 deaths across Pakistan, according to media reports.
The protests began Sunday with demonstrations in Gilgit-Baltistan, where Shiite Muslims form a majority in some districts. Thousands attacked offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group, which monitors the ceasefire along the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, and the U.N. Development Programme in Skardu. Protesters also targeted a police station, a school, and a local charity in Gilgit, causing significant damage. Police in the Gilgit-Baltistan region reported at least 12 deaths and 80 injuries.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated Monday that protesters became violent near a UNMOGIP Field Station, resulting in vandalism. He emphasized that the safety of U.N. personnel and premises remains a top priority.
Further south, in Karachi, demonstrators stormed the U.S. Consulate, smashing windows and attempting to set the building ablaze. Police responded with tear gas, batons, and gunfire, resulting in 10 deaths and over 50 injuries. Clashes also occurred in Islamabad during an attempted march toward the U.S. Embassy, leaving one person dead.
In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. Embassy and its consulates in Karachi and Lahore have suspended visa appointments and American Citizen Services, citing security concerns. Pakistani authorities have increased security around U.S. diplomatic missions nationwide, including the consulate in Peshawar.
The unrest comes amid ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which began Thursday following retaliatory attacks from Afghanistan after Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday.
The situation has also impacted Pakistan’s financial markets. The Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced a sharp decline Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling nearly 10% amid rising geopolitical tensions. Investors across various sectors sold off shares, citing heightened uncertainty.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesman Shabir Mir said Monday that the situation is now under control and the curfew will remain in effect until Wednesday. Police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to remain indoors due to “deteriorating law and order conditions.”
Anger has been rising in Pakistan, particularly among Shiite Muslims, following the strikes in Iran that killed Khamenei and other senior officials.
Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.