The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad has prolonged the suspension of its visa operations until March 20, canceling all previously scheduled visa interviews. However, routine and emergency assistance for American citizens will continue during this period.
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In a statement posted on X, the embassy announced that all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments remain cancelled through March 20. Applicants whose appointments have been affected will receive email notifications with instructions on how to reschedule their interviews.
Meanwhile, consular services at the U.S. Consulate General Karachi and the U.S. Consulate General Lahore are also still suspended.
The disruption comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East as the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States approaches its second week. Reports indicate that more than 2,000 people have been killed, the majority in Iran due to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes. Nearly 700 additional deaths have been reported in Lebanon, where Israeli attacks have targeted parts of Beirut, including central districts and areas in the country’s south.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces warned residents in two districts of Tehran — Villa and Moniriyeh — to evacuate ahead of planned strikes on military infrastructure linked to the Iranian government. The warning was issued through the military’s Persian-language account on X along with maps of the areas marked for evacuation.
A day earlier, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, made his first public remarks since the conflict intensified. In a message broadcast on television, he pledged that Iran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighboring states to shut down U.S. military bases within their territories or risk becoming targets of Iranian retaliation.
“I assure everyone that we will not neglect avenging the blood of your martyrs,” he said, while Iranian officials reported that he sustained minor injuries during the initial wave of strikes.
As the war nears the two-week mark, leaders in Iran, Israel, and the United States have continued to adopt firm positions, signaling no immediate signs of de-escalation. The conflict has already claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions across the region, and triggered volatility in global financial markets.
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