Foreign Media: US Officials Confirm for the First Time that US Marines Fired During Protest Outside US Consulate in Pakistan

[Global Network Report by Reporter Yan Peiyun] According to Reuters, two U.S. officials stated on March 2 local time that U.S. Marine Corps soldiers fired at protesters during a demonstration outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, over the weekend. Reuters reported that this is a rare use of force at a diplomatic facility, which could sharply escalate tensions in Pakistan.

The report indicates that this is the first time U.S. officials have confirmed the involvement of the Marine Corps in firing at protesters. The two officials cited preliminary information stating that it is currently unclear whether the gunfire resulted in casualties.

According to Reuters, the routine security work of U.S. diplomatic missions is typically handled by private contractors and local security forces, and the involvement of the Marine Corps in this incident highlights the U.S. consulate in Karachi's seriousness regarding the relevant threats.

The report stated that when asked about the incident, the Marine Corps referred the matter to the U.S. military, which then referred it to the State Department, and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

On the 1st, anti-American protests erupted in multiple locations in Pakistan following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei. Outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi, protesters clashed with law enforcement, resulting in casualties. The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan issued a statement on the 2nd saying that the U.S. consulate in Peshawar has suspended operations as of March 2. The embassy located in the capital, Islamabad, will continue to provide services to U.S. citizens. The statement also noted that due to ongoing traffic disruptions and detours around the U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore, all appointments for U.S. visas and services for U.S. citizens at both consulates have been canceled for the 3rd.