The U.S. Mission to Pakistan has suspended all visa appointments at its embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Lahore and Karachi through Friday, March 6, citing the current security situation.

In a notice to applicants, the mission said routine visa services would remain paused during this period. Officials did not elaborate on the specific security concerns but confirmed that affected applicants would receive instructions on how to reschedule once operations resume.

“Due to the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Lahore and Karachi have cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6,” the embassy said in a post on X, advising applicants to monitor official channels for further updates.

The extended suspension follows an earlier decision to cancel all visa and American Citizen Services (ACS) appointments scheduled for March 2.

In a security alert issued March 1, the mission said it was tracking reports of demonstrations outside the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore and protests near the consulate in Karachi, as well as calls for further gatherings near the embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Peshawar.

As a precaution, U.S. government personnel were instructed to restrict their movements until further notice.

The mission also urged American citizens in Pakistan to follow local media coverage, remain vigilant, avoid large crowds and ensure their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) registration is up to date.

The suspension comes amid nationwide protests triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Violent clashes erupted outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on Sunday, leaving multiple people dead and dozens injured, according to local authorities.

Demonstrations were also reported in major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, where protesters confronted law enforcement.

In Islamabad, authorities imposed Section 144 and sealed routes leading to the capital’s diplomatic enclave.

In Karachi, demonstrators attempted to advance toward the consulate compound, prompting police to use tear gas and other crowd-control measures to disperse them. Officials reported at least 10 fatalities and 36 injuries in the unrest.

Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the wife of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has died after succumbing to injuries sustained in a recent airstrike on their residence in central Tehran, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

According to Iranian news outlets, including the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Bagherzadeh had been in a coma since the strike, which took place two days ago. The attack, described by US officials as part of “Operation Epic Fury,” was reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel amid escalating hostilities with Iran.

Iranian authorities confirmed over the weekend that Khamenei was killed in the same strike, along with several members of his family and senior leaders who were present at the compound. State media characterized the attack as a major escalation and a severe blow to the country’s leadership structure.

Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, holding ultimate authority over the state, armed forces, and key institutions including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

His death marks one of the most consequential developments in the ongoing conflict and raises significant questions about Iran’s political succession and regional posture.

Bagherzadeh, believed to have been in her late seventies, largely remained out of public view throughout her husband’s decades in power. Married in the mid-1960s, the couple had six children. Despite her proximity to one of the region’s most powerful figures, she maintained a private life and held no official political role.

In a rare interview with Iranian state media in 2011, she described her role as creating a calm home environment to support her husband’s political responsibilities. She also recounted visiting him during his imprisonment under the Shah’s rule and assisting with revolutionary activities prior to 1979.

The killing of Khamenei and members of his family represents a dramatic turning point in the crisis, with regional and international observers warning of heightened instability in an already volatile security landscape.