The US Department of State announced that it will permanently close the US Consulate General in Peshawar, with diplomatic responsibilities for Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be transferred to the US Embassy in Islamabad.
In a statement, the department said the closure would take place in phases and described the move as part of efforts to ensure the safety of diplomatic personnel and manage resources efficiently.
The State Department said the United States would continue engagement with officials and residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through its remaining diplomatic missions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
“While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the Administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast,” the department said. “We will continue to engage meaningfully with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to foster economic ties, promote regional security, and advance the interests of the American people.”
The State Department alsos said that the decision reflects the US’s commitment to the safety of its diplomatic personnel and “efficient resource management”.
The announcement follows earlier reporting by Associated Press, which cited a State Department notice indicating that the consulate — the closest American diplomatic mission to Afghanistan’s border — would be shut permanently.
The consulate served for years as a major diplomatic and logistical post during the US military presence in Afghanistan after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
According to the AP, the closure had been under consideration for more than a year as part of a broader restructuring effort involving US federal agencies. The report said the decision was unrelated to regional tensions involving Iran, despite protests in Pakistani cities, including Karachi and Peshawar.
The closure of the Peshawar mission is expected to mark the first full shutdown of a US diplomatic post abroad tied to the department’s restructuring efforts.
