The United States has officially notified Congress of its intent to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, a move reported by The Independent on March 12, 2026. The facility, which has served as the closest U.S. diplomatic mission to the Afghan border since 2001, was a vital logistics hub during the invasion of Afghanistan. According to the State Department, the closure is expected to save $7.5 million annually and is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to downsize federal agencies, a process that has been under consideration for over a year.
US to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, says report https://t.co/xB27Ge0LZI
— Pakistan Today (@ePakistanToday) March 12, 2026
The notification clarified that the decision is not directly related to the ongoing joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, despite the heightened security climate in Pakistan. Protests following the launch of that conflict on February 28 had already led to the temporary suspension of operations at the Peshawar and Karachi consulates. The cost of the final shutdown is estimated at $3 million, with over half allocated to relocating armored trailers, equipment, and the motor pool fleet to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the remaining consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
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While the Peshawar consulate was historically a key “jumping-off” point for travel into Afghanistan and a primary contact for U.S. citizens in northwestern Pakistan, the State Department maintains that core national interests will not be undermined. All consular services and oversight of foreign assistance programs for the region will now be managed by the embassy in Islamabad, located approximately 184 kilometers away. This closure follows earlier orders for non-emergency personnel and their families to depart the Karachi and Lahore consulates due to ongoing security concerns and regional instability.
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