The State Department cites cost savings and operational efficiency; services to be shifted to Islamabad
The US State Department has decided it will permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, the closest US diplomatic mission to the Afghan border.
The independent reported that the Peshawar consulate has served as a primary operations and logistics hub before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
The State Department notified Congress of its intent to close the consulate and estimated annual savings of $7.5 million. According to the announcement, the shutdown will not adversely affect the ability of the United States to advance national interests in Pakistan. The decision has been under consideration for over a year and is unrelated to the ongoing Iran conflict, which has sparked protests in Pakistani cities, including Karachi, where US consulate operations have been temporarily suspended.
Read: US-Iran conflict: not just optics
The joint US-Israeli strike on Iran, launched on February 28, sparked protests in several cities and forced the US consulate in Karachi to suspend operations after an incident that left 11 people dead.
The Peshawar Consulate employs 18 US diplomats and staff and 89 local staff. The closure will cost approximately $3 million, with $1.8 million earmarked for the relocation of armored trailers that served as temporary office space. The remaining funds will cover the transfer of the consulate’s motor pool fleet, electronic and telecommunications equipment and office furniture to the US Embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
Because of its proximity to Kabul and the Afghan border, the consulate had been a key facility for ground travel to Afghanistan and for assisting American citizens in northwestern Pakistan, as well as Afghan nationals seeking American assistance.
After the closure, consular services will be handled by the US Embassy in Islamabad, about 114 miles (184 kilometers) away.
Read more: The US Consulate in Peshawar is ceasing operations
The State Department said: “The closure will not affect the mission’s ability to advance U.S. core interests, assist American citizens, or adequately oversee foreign assistance programs because all of these functions will continue to be performed by the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad,” the State Department said. The independent reported.
The decision reflects ongoing US 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 employees 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 Peshawar consulate.
