Karachi/Baghdad/Jammu & Kashmir: Violent protests swept across parts of South Asia and the Middle East on Sunday after outrage over the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, spilled onto the streets.
Deadly Clashes Outside US Consulate in Karachi
At least eight (8) people were killed and more than 30 injured when demonstrations outside the United States Consulate in Karachi turned violent, according to rescue officials. Protesters, largely mobilised by Shia groups, marched from Sultanabad toward Mai Kolachi, attempting to push through heavy security cordons around the diplomatic compound.
#BREAKING
Reports: 10+ killed after soldiers open fire onpeople protesting at US consulate in Karachi pic.twitter.com/7aKUYJq2eK— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) March 1, 2026
Police sealed major arteries, including MT Khan Road, as crowds swelled near the consulate. Authorities fired tear gas after demonstrators allegedly hurled stones and tried to breach barricades. Traffic was diverted from key junctions, including Nashim Chowrangi, as confrontations erupted at multiple points.
Videos circulating online showed a large mob forcing its way toward the consulate’s entrance area, vandalising property and reportedly setting parts of the structure ablaze. Security forces struggled for hours to regain control of the perimeter.
Anger Over Khamenei’s Death
The protests were triggered by confirmation from Iranian state media that Khamenei had been killed in coordinated US–Israeli strikes targeting his compound in Tehran. Iran has since declared a 40-day national mourning period.
Demonstrators in Karachi accused Washington and Tel Aviv of escalating instability in the region and demanded an end to foreign military intervention in West Asia.
Protests Spread Beyond Pakistan
Unrest was not confined to Pakistan. In Baghdad, crowds gathered outside the US Embassy, chanting slogans against American involvement in the region. Security forces clashed with protesters as tensions flared.
In India’s Jammu and Kashmir region, protests erupted in Ramban, where demonstrators burned effigies of former US President Donald Trump in symbolic condemnation of the strikes.
Regional Tensions Intensify
The wave of protests underscores the far-reaching fallout from the escalating US–Israel confrontation with Iran. With diplomatic missions on high alert and security tightened across several capitals, fears are mounting that the unrest could deepen an already volatile geopolitical crisis.
