Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has arrived in Iran to attend the funeral of the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack by the United States and Israel. Upon arrival, Naqvi described Iran as his “second home.” According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the funeral ceremonies that began on Saturday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also scheduled to participate in the event.
Pakistan is home to millions of Shia Muslims, making up about 20 percent of its total population. Many of them regard Khamenei as their spiritual leader. Following his killing, protests erupted across Pakistan, resulting in at least 23 deaths.
The large international attendance at the funeral underscores Khamenei’s influence across the Muslim world and the deep regional tensions following his death.