Pakistan deploys troops and imposes curfew after deadly protests over US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Pakistan Deploys Military as Violent Protests Erupt Following Iranian Leader’s Death

Pakistani authorities imposed a three-day curfew and deployed military forces in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu early Monday after deadly protests erupted following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes.

At least 12 people were killed and 80 others injured in Gilgit-Baltistan as thousands of Shiite demonstrators took to the streets Sunday. Protesters attacked the offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group, which monitors the ceasefire along the disputed Kashmir region, and the U.N. Development Program in Skardu. In Gilgit, demonstrators set fire to a police station and damaged a school and the offices of a local charity organization.

“The situation is under control,” said Shabir Mir, a government spokesperson for Gilgit-Baltistan, confirming that the curfew would remain in place until Wednesday. Police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to stay indoors, citing “deteriorating law and order conditions” throughout the region.

The violence wasn’t limited to northern Pakistan. In the southern port city of Karachi, protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate, breaking windows and attempting to set the building ablaze. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, resulting in 10 deaths and more than 50 injuries.

In the capital Islamabad, one person died during clashes with security forces as Shiite demonstrators attempted to march toward the U.S. Embassy in solidarity with Iran, which has a Shiite majority population.

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan announced Monday that its consulate in Peshawar would temporarily close, while consulates in Karachi and Lahore have canceled all visa appointments and American citizen services scheduled for Tuesday. Normal operations are expected to resume in Islamabad. Pakistani authorities have strengthened security around all U.S. diplomatic facilities nationwide to prevent further violence.

U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that protesters had vandalized the U.N. Military Observer Group’s field station. “The safety and security of U.N. personnel and premises throughout the region remain our top priority, and we continue to closely monitor the situation,” Dujarric said.

The unrest has also impacted Pakistan’s financial markets. The Pakistan Stock Exchange plummeted Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling nearly 10% amid rising geopolitical tensions. Investors offloaded shares across sectors, with market analysts attributing the sharp decline to heightened regional uncertainty following the attacks on Iran.

Tensions have been particularly high among Pakistan’s Shiite minority following the U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials. While Shiites represent a minority in Pakistan overall, they constitute the majority in several northern districts and in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along the Afghan border.

The domestic turmoil comes amid escalating cross-border hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Fighting erupted Thursday after Afghan forces launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes conducted the previous Sunday. Pakistan has since carried out multiple military operations along the shared border, further destabilizing the region.

Security analysts note that Pakistan faces increasing challenges in managing these overlapping crises, with sectarian tensions now intersecting with regional conflicts. The government must balance domestic security concerns while navigating complex diplomatic relationships with both Western allies and neighboring Islamic nations.

Local authorities have called for calm and urged religious leaders to help de-escalate tensions, though the situation remains volatile as demonstrations continue in several cities across the country.