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US announces closure of Consulate in Pakistan’s Peshawar amid diplomat safety concerns

By The South Asia Times

Washington - The United States Department of State has announced the phased closure of the US Consulate General in Peshawar, citing the safety of diplomatic personnel and resource management considerations amid heightened regional tensions and anti-US protests in Pakistan.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the State Department said diplomatic engagement with Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province would now be handled through the United States Embassy in Islamabad.

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

Despite the closure, Washington said its policy priorities in Pakistan remain unchanged and that it would continue engagement with officials and people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on economic cooperation, regional security and bilateral relations.

The announcement comes after weeks of protests across Pakistan following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the ongoing US-Iran conflict, an event that triggered widespread protests against the United States in several Pakistani cities.

In Karachi, at least 11 people were killed during clashes and demonstrations near the US consulate compound, according to local media and officials. Authorities had also temporarily shut the Peshawar consulate earlier after protests erupted outside the diplomatic facility.

The United States currently maintains diplomatic missions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, which will continue operations.

The closure of the Peshawar consulate marks a significant reduction of the American diplomatic footprint in northwestern Pakistan, a region long considered strategically important due to its proximity to Afghanistan and its role in regional counterterrorism efforts.

US announces closure of Consulate in Pakistan’s Peshawar amid diplomat safety concerns

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