Pakistani authorities imposed a three-day curfew and deployed troops before dawn Monday in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu after deadly unrest erupted in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, officials said.
Violence broke out Sunday when thousands of Shiite demonstrators took to the streets. In Skardu, protesters attacked offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, which monitors the ceasefire in the disputed Kashmir region, as well as facilities belonging to the United Nations Development Programme. In Gilgit, demonstrators set fire to a police station and damaged a school and the office of a local charity.
Police in the Gilgit-Baltistan region said at least 12 people were killed and 80 others injured in the clashes.
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said protesters vandalized the UNMOGIP field station but added that the safety of U.N. personnel remained a top priority as officials monitored the situation.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Shabir Mir said Monday that order had largely been restored and that the curfew would remain in effect through Wednesday. Regional police chief Akbar Nasir Khan urged residents to stay indoors, citing deteriorating security conditions.
Unrest also spread to other parts of the country. In Karachi, demonstrators stormed the United States Consulate General Karachi, breaking windows and attempting to set parts of the building ablaze. Police used batons, tear gas and live fire to disperse the crowd, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured. In Islamabad, one person was killed during clashes linked to an attempted march toward the U.S. Embassy.
The United States Embassy Islamabad and U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore suspended visa appointments and American citizen services Monday, citing security concerns. Pakistani authorities reinforced protection around U.S. diplomatic facilities nationwide, including in Peshawar.
Financial markets also reacted sharply. The Pakistan Stock Exchange saw its benchmark KSE-100 Index plunge nearly 10% amid mounting geopolitical tensions following the strikes on Iran. Analysts attributed the sell-off to investor anxiety and heightened uncertainty across sectors.
