The United States plans to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, the diplomatic mission closest to Afghanistan’s border, according to a notice from the US State Department reported by The Associated Press.
The State Department said the move would save about $7.5 million annually while not affecting Washington’s ability to pursue its national interests in Pakistan.
The consulate played an important role during the US war in Afghanistan, particularly after the US-led invasion in 2001, serving as a key hub for operations and logistics linked to the conflict.
According to the report, the closure has been under consideration for more than a year as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to scale back spending across federal agencies. Officials said the decision is not related to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Protests linked to the regional tensions have taken place in several Pakistani cities, including Karachi and Peshawar. Earlier, demonstrators supportive of Iran targeted the US Consulate in Karachi following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, forcing the mission to temporarily suspend operations.
Budget reductions at the State Department last year also included the dismissal of thousands of diplomatic staff and the near elimination of the US Agency for International Development, which was ultimately dissolved.
The Peshawar consulate is the first US diplomatic mission abroad to be fully closed as part of the State Department’s restructuring efforts.
