US decides to permanently close Peshawar Consulate

ISLAMABAD: The United States Department of State has decided to permanently shut down its consulate in Peshawar, the American diplomatic mission located closest to the Afghan border, according to a report by The Independent.

The Peshawar consulate had served as a major operations and logistics hub for the United States before, during and after the United States invasion of Afghanistan, particularly due to its proximity to Afghanistan.

According to the report, the State Department has formally notified the US Congress of its plan to close the mission, estimating annual savings of about $7.5 million. Officials said the decision had been under consideration for more than a year and was not linked to the ongoing tensions involving Iran.

The move also comes amid security concerns following protests in several Pakistani cities triggered by the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran launched on February 28.

Demonstrations in Karachi earlier forced the temporary suspension of operations at the US consulate there after an incident that left 11 people dead.

The Peshawar mission currently employs 18 American diplomats and staff members along with 89 local employees. The closure is expected to cost around $3 million, including approximately $1.8 million to relocate armored trailers that had been used as temporary office space.

Additional expenses will cover the transfer of vehicles, electronic and telecommunications equipment, and office furniture to the United States Embassy Islamabad and US consulates in Karachi and Lahore.

Due to its proximity to Kabul and the Afghan border, the consulate had long been a key facility for overland travel into Afghanistan. It also assisted American citizens in northwestern Pakistan and handled matters related to Afghan nationals seeking US support.

Following the closure, consular services previously offered in Peshawar will be handled by the US Embassy in Islamabad, located about 114 miles (184 kilometres) away.

The State Department said the closure would not affect Washington’s ability to advance its national interests, assist American citizens or oversee foreign assistance programmes in Pakistan, as these functions would continue to be carried out from the embassy in Islamabad.

The decision reflects ongoing US efforts to streamline overseas operations and reduce operational costs while maintaining diplomatic and consular presence in key regions.

Earlier this month, the State Department had also directed non-essential staff and their families at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore to leave Pakistan due to security concerns linked to protests. Shortly afterwards, the US mission announced a temporary suspension of operations at its Peshawar consulate.