KARACHI, Pakistan/SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

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."

Meanwhile, police clashed with protesters in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi who tried to march towards 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.

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.

Canberra had earlier expressed its support for the military operation against Iran.

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.