Pakistan deploys troops and enforces a three-day curfew following deadly pro-Iran protests that resulted in 24 fatalities.
As tensions flare in South Asia following the untimely passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pakistan has enacted emergency measures to quell the unrest. A significant military presence is now deployed in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, where violent protests have claimed numerous lives and disrupted both local safety and diplomatic relations, illustrating the intricate web of geopolitical responses that influence the region’s stability.
In the wake of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing during a joint operation by the United States and Israel, Pakistan has initiated a military deployment and a three-day curfew in several areas to maintain order amidst escalating protests. At least 24 lives have been lost, with numerous injuries reported as clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces on Sunday. The tragic events have led authorities to enhance security measures, particularly around U.S. diplomatic missions, as the nation grapples with significant unrest.
The curfew, implemented shortly after dawn on Monday, impacts districts such as Gilgit, Skurdu, and Shigar within the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. During the unrest, at least 12 protesters and a security officer were reported dead, with many others wounded. Specifically, seven individuals lost their lives in Gilgit, and six in Skardu, according to local medical sources.
On Sunday, thousands took to the streets, directing their rage towards the offices of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which oversees the region’s delicate ceasefire, as well as the UN Development Programme in Skardu city. Protesters also vandalized a police station, damaged a school, and attacked a local charity’s office in Gilgit. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric expressed concern over the safety of UN personnel and facility security in light of the violence observed near the UNMOGIP Field Station.
Shabir Mir, a government spokesperson from Gilgit-Baltistan, assured the public that order was being restored, announcing the extension of the curfew until Wednesday. Local police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged citizens to remain indoors to ensure their safety amid deteriorating conditions.
In Karachi, Pakistan’s bustling southern port city, violence escalated with ten individuals reported dead and over 60 others injured during protests outside the U.S. consulate. Similarly, additional fatalities occurred in the capital, Islamabad.
In response to the unrest, U.S. officials have heightened security around diplomatic missions across Pakistan. This includes revising operational hours at the embassy and consulates in Karachi and Lahore, where they canceled visa processing and American Citizen Services services due to security issues. The situation remains fluid, with the Pakistani federal government cautioning that further deterioration is possible in the face of widespread condemnation of Khamenei’s assassination. Tehran, in retaliation, has initiated drone and missile strikes targeting U.S. and Israeli interests across the Gulf region, signaling a potential escalation in hostilities.
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