US to shift Peshawar consulate operations to Islamabad after phased closure

The United States of America has announced the phased closure of its consulate in Peshawar and said its diplomatic functions will be moved to the US Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The US State Department said that responsibility for engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would now be handled from Islamabad.

“This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management,” it said.

It added that while the physical presence in Peshawar was changing, US policy priorities in Pakistan would continue, with engagement maintained with local officials and communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on economic ties, regional security and other areas.

“While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast. We will continue to engage meaningfully with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to foster economic ties, promote regional security, and advance the interests of the American people,” it said.

The department also said that its diplomatic work in Pakistan would continue through its missions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

“The department, through the US Mission to Pakistan, remains dedicated to advancing the US-Pakistan relationship through our remaining diplomatic posts in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore,” it said.

According to a report by The Independent, the consulate in Peshawar was the closest US diplomatic post to the Afghan border and had functioned as a key logistics and operations hub during the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The report said that the US State Department had informed Congress about the closure plan, stating it would save $7.5 million annually without impacting US national interests in Pakistan.

It added that the decision had been under consideration for over a year as part of broader downsizing measures and was not linked to the Iran war.

The notification stated that around $3 million would be spent on the closure process, including relocation of armoured trailers, office equipment, furniture, and the consulate’s motor pool fleet to Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

The consulate had also served as a key point for overland travel into Afghanistan and assistance for US citizens and Afghan nationals in northwestern Pakistan.