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US Announces Permanent Closure of Peshawar Consulate
The United States Department of State has announced the permanent closure of the US Consulate in Peshawar, a key diplomatic post near the Afghan border since 2001. Services will shift to the Embassy of the United States in Islamabad, with the move expected to save about $7.5 million annually.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-12
US Announces Permanent Closure of Peshawar Consulate

The United States has announced plans to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, according to a report by The Independent. The decision marks the end of a diplomatic presence that has played a key operational and logistical role near the Afghanistan border for decades.

According to the report, the United States Department of State informed United States Congress of its intention to close the facility, stating that the move would save approximately $7.5 million annually while not undermining US national interests in Pakistan.

A copy of the notification was obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. The document stated that the decision has been under review for more than a year and was part of a broader downsizing effort initiated during the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Officials clarified that the closure is not linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has sparked protests in several cities. Demonstrations following the joint US-Israeli military actions against Iran have also impacted diplomatic operations in Pakistan.

Earlier unrest in Karachi forced the US consulate there to temporarily suspend operations after an incident that reportedly resulted in 11 fatalities during protests.

The State Department noted that closing the Peshawar consulate will cost around $3 million. More than half of this amount will be used to relocate armored trailers that served as temporary office space. The remainder will cover the transportation of equipment, furniture, and vehicles to the US diplomatic missions in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Because of its proximity to the Afghan border and the capital Kabul, the Peshawar consulate had long functioned as a strategic entry point for overland travel into Afghanistan. It also served as a key contact point for American citizens in northwestern Pakistan and Afghan nationals seeking assistance from US authorities.

Following the closure, consular services will be transferred to the US Embassy in Islamabad, located roughly 184 kilometres from Peshawar. Officials emphasized that the transition would not affect the mission’s ability to assist American citizens, oversee foreign assistance programs, or advance US diplomatic objectives in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, the State Department also ordered non-essential personnel and their families to leave American consulates in Karachi and Lahore due to security concerns amid ongoing protests. During that period, the consulate in Peshawar had already temporarily suspended its operations.

The permanent shutdown represents a significant shift in the US diplomatic footprint in Pakistan, particularly in the strategically important northwestern region bordering Afghanistan.
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Peshawar

USPakistanRelations

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