The State Department cites cost savings and operational efficiencies; services will be transferred to Islamabad
The US State Department has decided to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, the closest US diplomatic mission to the Afghan border.
The Independent reported that the Peshawar consulate served as the main operational and logistical hub before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
The State Department informed Congress of its intention to close the consulate, estimating the annual savings at $7.5 million. According to the notification, the closure will not adversely affect the ability of the United States to promote national interests in Pakistan. The decision has been under consideration for more than a year and has nothing to do with the ongoing Iranian conflict, which has sparked protests in Pakistani cities, including Karachi, where U.S. consulate operations have been temporarily suspended.
Read: US-Iran conflict: not just optics
The joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, launched on February 28, sparked protests in several cities and forced the US consulate in Karachi to suspend operations following an incident that left 11 people dead.
The Peshawar consulate employs 18 American diplomats and staff as well as 89 local staff. The closure will cost about $3 million, $1.8 million of which will be spent on moving the armored trailers that served as temporary offices. The remaining funds will cover the transfer of the consulate’s automobile fleet, electronic and telecommunications equipment and office furniture to the US Embassy in Islamabad and the consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
Due to its proximity to Kabul and the Afghan border, the consulate was a key facility for land travel to Afghanistan and for assisting U.S. citizens in northwest Pakistan, as well as Afghan nationals seeking U.S. support.
After the closure, consular services will be provided by the US Embassy in Islamabad, located approximately 184 kilometers away.
Learn more: US Consulate in Peshawar suspends operations
The State Department said: “The closure would not negatively affect the mission’s ability to promote core national interests of the United States, assist American citizens, or provide adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs, as all of these functions would continue to be performed by the U.S. Embassy Islamabad.” ยป The Independent reported.
The move reflects continued U.S. efforts to streamline overseas operations and reduce costs while maintaining diplomatic and consular coverage in key regions.
Earlier this month, the US State Department ordered non-essential personnel and their families at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore to leave Pakistan due to security concerns arising from the protests. Later, the US mission also announced a temporary suspension of operations at its consulate in Peshawar.
