At least 23 people were killed and over 100 injured during nationwide protests in Pakistan on March 1, 2026, following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrators targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities and UN offices, with the most severe violence occurring in Karachi, Skardu, and Islamabad.
In Karachi, security personnel at the U.S. consulate fired on protesters who breached the compound's outer wall, resulting in 10 fatalities. Local officials confirmed all casualties resulted from gunfire, while U.S. diplomatic staff remained secure. Simultaneously, protesters in Skardu burned a UN office, killing 11, and Islamabad saw two deaths during clashes near diplomatic zones.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged calm, stating: "We stand with you… every Pakistani shares the grief of our Iranian neighbors." Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack on Khamenei as "a violation of international law," emphasizing Pakistan's 20–30 million Shiite residents' solidarity with Iran.
The protests reflect escalating regional tensions following the U.S.-Israel military action against Iran. Analysts warn the violence underscores growing security challenges for foreign missions in South Asia amid heightened geopolitical friction.
