US to permanently close consulate in Pakistan's Peshawar

The US State Department has notified Congress of its decision to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, the closest US diplomatic mission to the Afghanistan border.

According to reports citing the Associated Press and Reuters, the closure is expected to save approximately $7.5 million annually and will not negatively impact Washington's ability to advance its national interests in Pakistan. The decision is part of a broader Trump administration effort to reduce costs and downsize federal agencies, under review for over a year, and unrelated to ongoing protests in Pakistan linked to the Iran conflict.

The consulate, a key operational and logistical hub during the US war in Afghanistan following the 2001 attacks, currently employs 18 US diplomats and government staff along with 89 local employees, per some reports. Closing it is projected to cost about $3 million, after which consular services for US citizens and others will be handled by the US embassy in Islamabad, roughly 184 kilometers away.

This marks the first complete closure of a US diplomatic mission abroad as part of the State Department's reorganization. Amu TV noted prior attacks on the US consulate in Karachi amid protests supporting Iran, but emphasized no connection to the Peshawar decision. Ariana News highlighted its proximity to the Durand Line.