Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review regional and national security issues, including the evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran amid escalating tensions following the US-Israel attacks on Iran.

The meeting was convened following confirmation of the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a development that was followed by country-wide protests

in Pakistan with at least 10 people dying in Karachi.

According to a statement issued by 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 broader area. “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 Foreign Office (FO) provided a detailed briefing on efforts to safely evacuate Pakistani nationals from Iran. “Evacuation is being facilitated through Azerbaijan to ensure the citizens’ safe return,” the FO briefed the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Forces 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.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister also held a separate meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss the country’s overall situation.