• The US has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff from its Karachi and Lahore consulates due to escalating security risks.
• This directive follows violent protests against US-Israeli operations in Iran, resulting in multiple fatalities.
• No changes have been made to the operations of the US Embassy in Islamabad amid the ongoing tensions.

The United States has ordered the departure of non-emergency staff and their families from consulates in Karachi and Lahore due to safety risks, citing escalating tensions following Iranian retaliation to recent US-Israeli strikes. In a statement, the US Embassy in Pakistan affirmed that there was no operational change to the embassy in Islamabad. This directive comes amidst ongoing protests where at least 25 people were killed in clashes related to these events, according to reports from multiple sources. Additionally, the US Department has authorized similar evacuations across several other regional missions, including those in Saudi Arabia and Cyprus, as a precautionary measure, according to Dawn, India Times, and South China Morning Post.

The protests were triggered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli military actions, leading to hundreds attempting to storm the US consulate in Karachi. Reports indicate that US Marines were involved in the use of force, a rare occurrence at such posts, further highlighting the dangerous atmosphere surrounding diplomatic missions in Pakistan. The US Embassy confirmed these events while stressing ongoing safety evaluations for American citizens in the region, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

In light of these escalating events, security measures have been tightened around US facilities, with police and security forces deployed extensively to maintain order. Authorities in Pakistan have issued a nationwide ban on large gatherings due to the rise in protests, particularly among the Shiite community, which is significant in Pakistan. Protests have further expressed opposition to US military actions in the Middle East, illustrating the complex interplay of local sentiments and broader geopolitical tensions, as noted by Dawn, India Times, and South China Morning Post.