US warns citizens as radical TLP’s ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa’ march sparks fresh unrest in Pakistan

The United States has warned its citizens in Pakistan to stay alert as fresh waves of unrest grip the country in the wake of the planned ‘Labbaik Ya Aqsa Million March’ by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP), a radical Islamist party.

In a new security alert issued on October 10, the US Embassy in Islamabad and its consulates in Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar said they are closely monitoring planned protests that could lead to widespread disruptions. The advisory cautioned that roads may be blocked and traffic severely affected, with no clarity on how long the demonstrations will last.

Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, is on edge as authorities brace for unrest. Security forces have sealed key routes with shipping containers and suspended mobile internet ahead of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) “Final Call” march to the US Embassy over Gaza killings.

Clashes broke out in Lahore on Thursday after police stopped thousands of TLP supporters heading to Islamabad, leaving dozens injured and at least one protester dead, according to Dawn. As protesters gather on the city’s outskirts, Islamabad’s Red Zone has been fortified and nearby hotels evacuated amid fears of fresh violence.

Violence in Lahore has triggered a major security clampdown across Pakistan. Dozens, including police officers, were injured as TLP protesters damaged vehicles and property while rallying for “justice for Gaza.”

Following the clashes, the far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) urged supporters to join a “final call” march to Islamabad on Friday, Dawn reported. The group planned to reach the US Embassy in the city’s Red Zone, which houses top diplomatic and government offices.

In response, authorities sealed the Red Zone with shipping containers, evacuated hotels, and suspended mobile internet in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Geo TV said key sites like Faizabad Interchange have also been barricaded to prevent the march.