US to permanently close consulate in Pakistan’s Peshawar

The United States has decided to permanently shut down its consulate in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, the diplomatic mission closest to neighboring Afghanistan, as part of broader cost-cutting measures, officials and sources said.

The U.S. State Department has informed Congress of its plan to close the consulate, a move expected to save about $7.5 million annually, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Officials said the closure would not significantly affect Washington’s ability to advance its diplomatic and strategic interests in Pakistan.

Sources at the U.S. consulate, speaking to Nukta on condition of anonymity, said the closure had been under consideration for several years, dating back to efforts during the administration of President Donald Trump to downsize federal operations and reduce overseas costs.

They added that the decision is not linked to the ongoing Iran war, which has triggered protests in several Pakistani cities, including Karachi and Peshawar, and prompted temporary security precautions at U.S. diplomatic facilities in recent weeks.

According to the sources, employees have been informally notified about the planned closure, although the exact timeline for shutting down the mission has yet to be finalized.

The consulate currently employs 18 American diplomats and officials and more than 80 Pakistani staff members, the sources said. While employees will retain their positions for now, some are expected to be reassigned to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad after the shutdown, while others could face job losses once the closure is completed.

Sources said the Peshawar mission primarily handled political and economic affairs and public diplomacy, including public engagement, media outreach, regional English-language programs, the American Space, exchange initiatives, monitoring grants, and facilitating Pakistan-Afghanistan trade contacts.

The post also previously oversaw USAID operations in the region, which were closed last year, and did not provide visa services.

Located close to the Afghan border, the Peshawar consulate has long served as the United States’ nearest diplomatic outpost to Afghanistan and played an important role as an operations and logistics hub before, during and after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.