ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The US Embassy in Islamabad has announced that it will resume normal consular operations on Tuesday, March 3, while visa appointments scheduled for tomorrow at consulates in Karachi and Lahore have been cancelled.
In a statement, the embassy stated that the US Consulate General in Peshawar has “temporarily suspended operations” effective from March 2.
“The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad will continue to provide all routine or emergency consular services for U.S. citizens.”
It further stated that “due to continued disruptions and traffic diversions around the US Consulate General in Karachi and Lahore, both have canceled all appointments for U.S. visas and American Citizen Services on Tuesday, March 3.”
“The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore continue to limit movements for all U.S. government personnel throughout the country,” the statement reads.
“We advise U.S. citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP registration is up to date,” it added.
Earlier, the US mission canceled all appointments for the US visas and American Citizen Services at Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, and the Embassy in Islamabad for March 2 due to the protests.
“We are monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the US Consulate General in Lahore and violent protests at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, as well as calls for additional demonstrations at the US Embassy in Islamabad and US Consulate General Peshawar,” the statement issued on Sunday stated.
Violent protest erupted
The warning comes after protests erupted across Pakistan following the martyrdom of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in an airstrike from the US and Israel at his residence in Tehran.
At least 23 protesters were killed in clashes nationwide, including 10 outside the US consulate in Karachi, 11 in Skardu, and two in Islamabad.
In Karachi, protesters gathered outside the US consulate, where witnesses reported gunfire and police using tear gas after demonstrators were protesting outside the main gate, attempting to breach the premises.
Moreover, hundreds of people had gathered outside the US consulate in Lahoer, and smaller clashes broke out when officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
In Islamabad, protesters attempted to march towards the US embassy, despite heavy security and roadblocks around the diplomatic enclave.
