Khamenei Killing: Pakistan In Crisis As Shia Protests, Border Flashpoints Deepen Instability | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 11:23 IST

The killing of Khamenei has sparked Shia protests from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan, with security forces imposing curfews in sensitive areas and invoking Section 144 nationwide

Pakistan’s civil-military leadership has gone into emergency mode following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering urgent security reviews, diplomatic outreach and the cancellation of a high-profile state visit to Russia.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir called off their planned March 2-5 visit to Russia, citing rapidly evolving regional and domestic crises, top security sources told CNN-News18.

Emergency Meetings At The Top

Sharif chaired multiple high-level security meetings with Munir, the heads of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and senior military commanders to assess the deteriorating national and regional security environment.

Separately, Munir convened a closed-door huddle of top generals at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, focusing on both internal and external threats. He also established contact with the chiefs of the air force and navy, directing all force commands to remain on high alert.

Officials say discussions centered on three urgent questions: how to manage the fallout of the Iran crisis, how to navigate tensions with Afghanistan, and how to contain widespread Shia protests across Pakistan.

Diplomatic Outreach

In a bid to prevent further escalation, Sharif made emergency calls to key regional and global leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as leaders in Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Diplomatic sources say Islamabad is attempting to strike a delicate balance in its relations with Washington, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Moscow and Beijing amid fast-shifting regional alignments.

Mounting External Pressures

Pakistan faces a complex external security environment. Tensions with the Afghan Taliban government remain high, while relations with India continue to be strained along the Line of Control.

The 909-kilometre Iran-Pakistan border has emerged as another potential flashpoint amid fears of spillover instability. Security officials are also monitoring increased US naval deployments in the Arabian Sea, adding to Islamabad’s strategic calculations.

Internal Volatility

Domestically, the government is grappling with worsening security conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch insurgent factions remain active.

The killing of Khamenei has sparked massive Shia protests from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan, with security forces imposing curfews in sensitive areas and invoking Section 144 nationwide to curb gatherings. Religious leaders have reportedly pressured the government to cut ties with the United States and reconsider aspects of its foreign policy.

Analysts also warn that unrest in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province could embolden separatist sentiment in Pakistan’s Balochistan, reviving calls for a “Greater Balochistan"—a scenario that would pose a major challenge to the military establishment.

Political and Economic Fragility

The Sharif-led government, already facing economic strain and political polarisation since the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan, now confronts the prospect of compounding crises at home and abroad.

With sectarian tensions rising, insurgencies simmering, and diplomatic pressures intensifying, Pakistan’s leadership finds itself navigating one of its most complex security landscapes in recent years—with little room for miscalculation.

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