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

🇵🇰 Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in Gilgit and Skardu following deadly protests against U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

😡 At least 12 people were killed and 80 injured during violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region after demonstrators attacked U.N. offices and burned police vehicles.

🔥 In Karachi, thousands of Shiite demonstrators stormed the U.S. Consulate, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building while police responded with tear gas and gunfire leaving 10 dead and over 50 injured.

🗳️ Clashes in Islamabad resulted in one additional death as minority Shiites attempted a march toward the U.S. Embassy in support of Iran.

🏢 The U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan temporarily closed its consulate in Peshawar and canceled all visa appointments for Tuesday due to disruptions around consulates in Karachi and Lahore.

📉 The Pakistan Stock Exchange saw the KSE-100 Index plunge nearly 10% as investors fled amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty following the attacks on Iran.

⚠️ A U.N. spokesperson stated that the safety of U.N. personnel remains a top priority after protesters vandalized the UNMOGIP Field Station in Skardu city.

🛡️ Pakistani government officials, including Police Chief Akbar Nasir Khan, urged residents to stay indoors due to deteriorating law and order conditions while the situation is assessed as under control.

🏗️ Protesters damaged multiple targets in Gilgit including a school, a local charity office, and set fire to an armored police vehicle during the unrest.

🤝 The unrest is concentrated among the Shiite minority population, who form a majority in some northern districts and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

⚔️ Violence erupted against the backdrop of ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan that began after retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes.

💼 U.S. consulate offices in Peshawar had security beefed up to prevent further violence targeting the diplomatic mission.

🕊️ Funeral prayers were held by Shiite Muslims in Karachi for protesters killed during the violent clashes with security forces on Sunday.

🗓️ The curfew in Gilgit and Skardu is expected to remain in place until Wednesday before dawn Monday.

📸 AP photo credits indicate footage of Shiites attending funeral prayers and police firing tear gas shells in Karachi on March 1, 2026.

Bullish Signals
  • Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu to restore order following the violence.
  • The Pakistan Stock Exchange is preparing for normal consular operations to resume in Islamabad on Tuesday, indicating a path toward stability.
  • Beefed-up security has been implemented at U.S. diplomatic missions across Pakistan, including around the consulate in Peshawar, to prevent further incidents.
  • Police chief Akbar Nasir Khan indicated that the situation is under control and urged residents to stay indoors for safety.
Risk Factors
  • Pakistani authorities deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew in Gilgit and Skardu after at least 12 people were killed and 80 others injured during violent protests.
  • Thousands of Shiite demonstrators attacked U.N. offices in Skardu, vandalizing the UNMOGIP Field Station and burning a police station, school, and charity office in Gilgit.
  • In Karachi, demonstrators stormed the U.S. Consulate, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building, resulting in 10 deaths and over 50 injuries from police response.
  • Clashes in Islamabad during an attempted Shiite march toward the U.S. Embassy resulted in one additional death.
  • The Pakistan Stock Exchange plunged with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling nearly 10% amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty.
  • The U.S. diplomatic mission temporarily closed its consulate in Peshawar, while canceling all visa appointments and citizen services in Karachi and Lahore for Tuesday due to disruptions.
  • Ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has intensified following retaliatory attacks by Afghanistan after Pakistani airstrikes, complicating regional stability.
Full Analysis
Pakistan deployed troops and imposed a three-day curfew before dawn Monday in the northern cities of Gilgit and Skardu following deadly protests that erupted after U.S.-Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials announced. The unrest primarily affected Shiite Muslims, who form a minority nationwide but are concentrated in parts of northern Pakistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. In Gilgit-Baltistan, thousands of demonstrators attacked offices for the U.N. Military Observer Group monitoring the Kashmir ceasefire and the U.N. Development Program, while also burning a police station and damaging a school and local charity offices. Police reported at least 12 deaths and 80 injuries in the region during these violent clashes, with a curfew expected to remain until Wednesday according to government spokesperson Shabir Mir. In Karachi, protesters stormed the U.S. Consulate, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building while police responded with tear gas and gunfire that resulted in at least 10 deaths and more than 50 injuries. Similar tensions flared in Islamabad where a Shiite minority group attempted to march toward the U.S. Embassy, resulting in one death during clashes. The U.S. State Department responded by temporarily closing its consulate in Peshawar while maintaining services from the Islamabad embassy for citizens, though visa and consular appointments scheduled for Tuesday were canceled due to disruptions around Karachi and Lahore offices. International diplomatic reactions included a statement from U.N. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasizing that the safety of U.N. personnel and premises remains a top priority as violence near the UNMOGIP Field Station was documented. Domestically, the Pakistan Stock Exchange saw its benchmark KSE-100 Index plunge nearly 10% on Monday amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, with investors selling off shares across sectors. These events occur against a backdrop of ongoing cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan that began Thursday following retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes, complicating the overall security situation in the region. Pakistani authorities have increased security at U.S. diplomatic missions nationwide, including around the consulate in Peshawar, to prevent further escalation.