US Embassy and Consulates Cancel All Visa Appointments in Pakistan Through March 6
The United States Embassy in Islamabad and its Consulates General in Lahore and Karachi have officially cancelled all visa appointments through Friday, March 6, 2026. This decisive action was announced by the US Embassy via its official social media account on Tuesday, citing the rapidly deteriorating security situation across Pakistan as the primary reason for the suspension.
Violent Protests Erupt Nationwide Following Iran's Supreme Leader Death
The visa appointment cancellations directly follow widespread and violent protests that erupted across Pakistan after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israel military strike over the past weekend. According to an AFP tally released on Monday, the death toll from these protests has reached at least twenty-five individuals, highlighting the severity of the unrest.
The security situation turned particularly volatile in Karachi on Sunday when protesters managed to breach the outer wall of the US consulate compound. In response to this breach, two US officials confirmed to reporters on Monday that US Marines stationed at the consulate opened fire on the demonstrators. This represents an exceptionally rare use of force at a diplomatic post, underscoring the gravity of the threat.
However, the officials cautiously noted that it remains unclear whether the rounds fired by the Marines actually struck or killed anyone. They also stated they did not know whether shots were additionally fired by others protecting the mission, including private security guards and local Pakistani police forces.
Extension of Earlier Service Disruptions and Security Alerts
The latest cancellations represent an extension of earlier service disruptions. On March 2, the US had already cancelled all visa and American Citizen Services appointments at its embassy in Islamabad and its consulates in Karachi and Lahore. This followed a security alert issued by the US mission in Pakistan on March 1, which stated it was actively monitoring ongoing demonstrations at the Lahore and Karachi consulates.
The alert also mentioned calls for further protests outside the embassy in Islamabad and the consulate in Peshawar. As a precautionary measure, all US government personnel in Pakistan were instructed to restrict their movements until further notice, effectively limiting non-essential travel and activities.
Broader Regional Conflict Intensifies Without Abatement
Meanwhile, the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran shows no signs of abating. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a social media post that American forces have successfully destroyed numerous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities. These targeted strikes included air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields across the region.
In a related incident early Tuesday, two drones struck the US embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials reported the attack caused a small fire and resulted in minor material damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the building was understood to have been largely empty at the time of the strike.
In response to this attack, the US embassy subsequently issued shelter-in-place notifications for its personnel in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. It also imposed restrictions on non-essential travel to military installations throughout the region, reflecting the heightened state of alert and ongoing security concerns across the Middle East and South Asia.
