The United States has announced plans to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, its closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border, according to reports from The Independent on Thursday. The consulate, established as a key operations and logistics point during the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, will cease operations later this year.
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The US State Department informed Congress of the decision, highlighting that the closure would save approximately $7.5 million annually without affecting the advancement of US national interests in Pakistan. A copy of the notification, obtained by The Associated Press, outlined that more than half of the $3 million allocated for the closure will be used to relocate armoured trailers that served as temporary office space. The remaining funds will cover the transfer of equipment, furniture, and the consulate’s motor pool fleet to the US Embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
US will permanently close the consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, its closest mission to Afghanistan https://t.co/qdyL9dpA5O
— The Independent (@Independent) March 12, 2026
“The Peshawar consulate had been a critical facility for overland travel into Afghanistan, as well as a contact point for American citizens in northwestern Pakistan and Afghan nationals seeking US assistance,” The Independent reported. With the closure, consular services for US citizens and others in the region will be managed by the embassy in Islamabad, located about 184 kilometres away.
Officials emphasized that the closure will not compromise the mission’s ability to advance core US interests, assist American citizens, or oversee foreign aid programs. These functions will continue under the embassy in Islamabad.
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The announcement comes amid heightened security concerns following protests sparked by the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, which led to temporary suspension of operations at the Peshawar consulate, as well as US orders for non-emergency personnel and families to leave consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
The closure marks a significant shift in US diplomatic presence in northwest Pakistan, reflecting both cost-saving measures and a strategic realignment of resources in the region.