US Closes Peshawar Consulate

The United States — United States Department of State has announced the permanent closure of its consulate in Pakistan — Peshawar, Pakistan, a key diplomatic mission near the Afghan border. This decision, under consideration for over a year since the Donald Trump administration began downsizing federal agencies, aims to save $7.5 million annually, with a $3 million cost for closure. The Pakistan — Peshawar consulate, which employed 18 American diplomats and 89 local staff, served as a primary operations and logistics point for Afghanistan and a contact for American citizens in northwestern Pakistan. Consular services will now be handled by the US Embassy in Pakistan — Islamabad, approximately 184 kilometers away. The United States — United States Department of State asserts that the closure will not adversely affect US national interests or foreign assistance programs in Pakistan. This move is unrelated to the ongoing war involving Iran, which has sparked protests in Pakistani cities like Pakistan — Karachi and Pakistan — Peshawar, leading to temporary suspensions of US consulate operations and the departure of non-emergency personnel from Pakistan — Karachi and Pakistan — Lahore.