US to phase out consulate in Peshawar, shift operations to Islamabad embassy

ISLAMABAD: The United States has announced the phased closure of its consulate general in Peshawar, shifting diplomatic responsibility for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to the US Embassy in Islamabad, the State Department said.

The move reflects what Washington described as a focus on “safety of diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management.”

“As we transition to a new chapter, with the US Consulate General’s operations shifting to the US Embassy Islamabad, we will continue our important diplomatic work in partnership with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the State Department said in a statement.

It said engagement would continue to focus on economic ties, regional security and broader cooperation with provincial authorities.

The department said its policy priorities in Pakistan remain unchanged and that it would continue diplomatic engagement through its missions in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

“While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the Administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast,” it added.

The consulate in Peshawar has historically been a key US diplomatic outpost in the northwest region bordering Afghanistan, an area central to security and counterterrorism cooperation in past decades.

The State Department said it remains committed to advancing US-Pakistan relations through its remaining diplomatic posts in the country.