UPDATE - Iranian supreme leader’s assassination triggers protests in Indian-administered Kashmir

UPDATES WITH MORE REACTIONS

By Aamir Latif and Nusrat Sidiq

KARACHI, Pakistan/SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) - Protests broke out across Indian-administered Kashmir on Sunday following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel attack launched a day before.

Demonstrators marched through the capital Srinagar and central Kashmir’s Budgam district, in addition to several towns in north and south Kashmir, with gatherings also reported in Ladakh.

In a statement, Chief Minister of Indian-administered Kashmir Omar Abdullah, while expressing deep concern over the unfolding developments in Iran, including Khamenei's killing, urged "all communities to remain calm, uphold peace, and avoid any actions that could lead to tension or unrest."

Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq along with other religious scholars called for a strike in the disputed valley on Monday, denouncing the US-Israeli aggression and killing of the supreme leader.

High speed internet traffic was also affected in the valley.

Indian lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the US-Israel attacks, terming Khamenei’s assassination "immoral and unlawful act."

Meanwhile, police in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi clashed with protesters who stormed the US consulate.

Hundreds of protesters blocked traffic by burning tires and pelted stones on the police, which in return fired teargas to disperse them. All roads leading to the US Consulate in the city's southern district were hence closed. Yet, according to videos on social media, some managed to enter the mission's entrance and smashed windows. At least nine people were killed in the clashes, according to officials.

In Lahore, hundreds of protesters including women and children also tried to march towards the US Consulate, which was prevented by the police.

Iranian state television said on Sunday that the supreme leader was killed in the US-Israeli bombardment. A 40-day mourning period was announced and an interim council named until a successor is chosen.

- Call for dialogue and diplomacy

Separately, several Asian nations called for resumption of dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the conflict from further deterioration following the attack, which led Iran to retaliate against Israel and US assets in the region, prompting many Gulf states to shut their airspace.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Canberra is concerned about the escalation and urged citizens to leave the region.

He told reporters in Sydney that the government updated its official travel advice for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to "do not travel."

He urged the Australian citizens already in those countries to leave immediately if it is safe to do so.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia was not involved in the attacks on Iran. The country, however, has expressed support for the military operation.

Japan has so far refrained from expressing outright support for the US and Israeli attacks.

In a phone conversation with other members of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated Tokyo's position that it supports US efforts to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear program through dialogue, according to Kyodo News.

Thailand also expressed "grave" concern over the unfolding situation in the Middle East. "We urge all the parties to prevent the conflict from further deterioration, thereby undermining international peace and security and affecting innocent civilians," the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry reiterated the urgency of "dialogue and diplomacy" to prevent the situation from further deterioration.

Cambodia called on all parties concerned to exercise "maximum restraint to avoid further escalation that would harm civilian lives and undermine peace."

Expressing "heartfelt" grief over Khamenei's assassination, Bangladesh's opposition leader and chief of Jamat-e-Islami party Shafiqur Rahman called upon the US, Israel, Iran, and all parties concerned to immediately halt military actions, exercise maximum restraint, and prioritize diplomatic engagement.

India's External Affairs Ministry asked foreign nationals in the country to contact regional registration offices for assistance regarding visa extension amid the heightened tensions.