FO informs about the evacuation of citizens who are being facilitated through Azerbaijan to ensure their safe return
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Sunday to review regional and national security issues, including the evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran amid escalating tensions following the United States (US) and Israel’s attack on Iran.
The meeting was called in the wake of the current situation along the border with Afghanistan and the wider crisis in the Middle East following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At least 10 people were killed in Karachi during clashes that erupted when protesters marched on the US consulate, while Section 144 was enforced in Punjab and Islamabad amid demonstrations following Khamenei’s killing.
Meanwhile, the worsening law and order situation in Skardu led to the deployment of the Pakistan Army under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister also held a separate meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss the overall situation of the country.
High-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to review the situation of the regional government
The regional and regional situation was reviewed in detail at the meeting.
At the meeting, کرادر و مختلف اقد ایک کرادر و مختلف اقد ایہ
Afghanistan at the meeting… pic.twitter.com/0BtGKoHnUW
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) 1 March 2026
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, the meeting took a detailed look at the regional situation, including steps to ensure peace and stability in the country and the wider region. “Afghanistan’s security situation was also closely examined,” it said.
“Officials were briefed on the country’s internal security arrangements and ongoing measures to protect Pakistani citizens abroad,” the statement added.
On the prime minister’s instructions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) gave a detailed briefing on the efforts to evacuate Pakistani nationals safely from Iran. “Evacuation will be facilitated through Azerbaijan to ensure the safe return of citizens,” the FO informed the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Field Marshal Asim Munir, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and senior civil and military officials.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has also postponed his planned visit to Russia in view of the prevailing internal and regional situation.
The federal government said that the Prime Minister’s visit to Russia has great significance in promoting the bilateral relations between the two countries. However, due to the existing situation, the visit has been postponed. “The new date of the visit will be announced later after mutual consultation,” the statement added.
Pakistan has launched ‘Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq’ following renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
According to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, security forces have killed 415 Afghan Taliban in a major military operation launched in response to “unprovoked cross-border attacks” from Afghanistan.
Read more: The number of Afghan Taliban killed in ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ reaches 415
Security sources said the operation is ongoing and will continue until all targets are achieved. “The Pakistan Armed Forces remain fully committed to defending national security and responding decisively to any unprovoked aggression,” the statement added.
On the other hand, the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran, pushing the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing efforts to denuclearize Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated claims that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.
In response, Iran attacked Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
Later, Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in strikes by Israel and the United States, and announced 40 days of public mourning in the Islamic Republic.
Hours after the United States and Israel said an air strike killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as part of the most ambitious series of attacks on Iran in decades, Iranian state media confirmed the 86-year-old leader’s death on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump said the airstrikes launched on Saturday on Iranian targets were aimed at ending a decades-long threat from Iran and ensuring it could not develop a nuclear weapon, as he sought to justify a risky gamble that appeared to go against his stated opposition to US involvement in complex overseas conflicts.
