Violence Spreads Across Pakistan
In the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, at least seven more people were killed and dozens injured, according to AFP, citing rescue official Zaheer Shah.
In the capital, Islamabad, police sealed off roads leading to the high-security Red Zone, home to foreign embassies and parliament. Officers fired tear gas when hundreds attempted to march toward the diplomatic enclave, Reuters reported.
In Skardu, a city in the Shia-majority Gilgit-Baltistan region known for its Himalayan tourism, protesters set ablaze a United Nations office building. Local government spokesperson Shabbir Mir told Reuters that the building was burned but no casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, in Lahore, hundreds gathered outside the U.S. consulate. Witness Aqeel Raza told Reuters that some protesters tried to damage a distant security gate, but police halted them without using force.
Another demonstration was expected later Sunday near Islamabad’s diplomatic enclave.
Protests Ripple Beyond Pakistan
Anger over Khamenei’s killing ignited demonstrations far beyond Pakistan’s borders.
In Baghdad, hundreds of Iraqis, many clad in black, attempted to push into the compound housing the U.S. embassy despite a heavy security presence.
“The martyrdom of Sayyed Ali Khamenei has hurt us,” said Ali, a masked protester, speaking to AFP. “We are here because we want the withdrawal of the occupying American forces from Iraq.”
He was referring to U.S.-led coalition troops, whose footprint in Iraq has shrunk in recent years, with most forces now stationed in the north.
Iraq’s most senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged Iranians to remain united as Iraqi authorities declared a three-day national mourning period for Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989.
In Indian-administered Kashmir, thousands of Shia Muslims filled the streets of Srinagar. Waving red, black and yellow flags, they converged on the city’s main square in a largely peaceful but emotionally charged rally.
“This day, we are all very heavy-hearted. We are mourning our beloved leader who was martyred,” Syed Towfeeq, 40, told AFP. “We all have a message for the U.S. President Donald Trump… We will always stand against your oppression.”
As smoke cleared in Karachi and diplomatic missions tightened security worldwide, the aftershocks of one assassination reverberated across borders — a reminder that in geopolitics, a single spark can ignite a continent.
