US Embassy Suspends Visa Services in Pakistan After Deadly Protests

The Embassy of the United States, Islamabad announced that consular and visa services in Islamabad, as well as at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore, have been suspended until Friday, March 6, following violent protests by supporters of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

According to Pakistani media reports, the decision came after angry demonstrators stormed the US Consulate in Karachi. Hundreds of protesters, angered over the reported killing of Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, breached the outer wall, smashed windows, and attempted to enter the building.

During the clashes, Pakistani police responded with tear gas and live fire, resulting in 17 deaths, mostly from gunshot wounds and injuring more than 70 others, local reports said.

In a statement, the US Embassy cited ongoing demonstrations near its consulates in Lahore and Karachi, as well as calls for gatherings outside the Islamabad embassy and the Peshawar consulate. All visa appointments and American citizen services scheduled for March 2 were initially canceled, with the suspension later extended through March 6.

The US Consulate in Peshawar has also been temporarily closed since March 2. The embassy advised American citizens to remain vigilant and avoid high-risk areas as anti-US protests continue across major Pakistani cities. The Pakistani government has reportedly banned large public gatherings.

Anti-American sentiment has intensified in parts of the region following reports of senior Iranian leadership casualties in recent US and Israeli military operations, triggering protests in several countries.

Pakistan, which maintains diplomatic and security ties with the United States, has previously witnessed large-scale demonstrations in response to regional conflicts, often requiring heightened security around foreign missions.

The US Embassy in Pakistan suspends visa services until March 6 after deadly protests and an attempted storming of the Karachi consulate amid rising anti-US unrest.

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