7 Killed in PoK Protests Over Khamenei’s Death

The situation across South Asia has turned explosive following the confirmed death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on March 1, 2026, in a reported joint US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran. The strike, part of the escalating Iran–Israel War, has sent shockwaves far beyond the Middle East, triggering unrest, violent protests and heavy security crackdowns in Pakistan and the Kashmir region.

In Pakistan, anger spilled onto the streets within hours. The worst violence erupted in Karachi, where protesters attempted to march toward the US Consulate, clashing with security forces. Tear gas and baton charges quickly gave way to gunfire in some areas. At least 10 people have been killed nationwide, with dozens injured, as anti-US and anti-Israel slogans rang out and major roads were blocked. Several cities with significant Shia populations witnessed shutdowns and tense stand-offs between demonstrators and police.

The unrest spread to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. In Skardu and Gilgit, mobs reportedly torched offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), along with other government buildings. Curfew was imposed in parts of Skardu, while stretches of the strategic Karakoram Highway were blocked, choking movement in the mountainous region. Security forces were deployed in strength to prevent further escalation.

Across the Line of Control, Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley witnessed a swift clampdown. Authorities enforced “curfew-like” restrictions in sensitive pockets of the city. Lal Chowk and the adjoining Ghanta Ghar were barricaded, and additional units of the Central Reserve Police Force were deployed. Mobile internet services were suspended or throttled to prevent mobilisation and the spread of provocative content. Despite restrictions, thousands gathered in parts of Srinagar and Magam, waving black flags and raising slogans, though major violence was largely contained.

The killing of the 86-year-old cleric marked a dramatic escalation in the regional conflict. Following the strike on Tehran, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched retaliatory missile attacks on Israeli military targets and US interests, pushing the Middle East closer to full-scale war. Airspace disruptions, military mobilisations and emergency alerts across Gulf nations have deepened global anxiety.

With tempers high and diplomacy stalled, both Pakistan and India remain on edge. Security agencies are bracing for further flare-ups, fearing that the aftershocks of the Iran-Israel confrontation could ignite fresh unrest in already fragile regions.