US Permanently Closes Peshawar Consulate, Key Mission Near Afghanistan Border

• The US State Department will permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, a crucial diplomatic mission near the Afghan border.
• The closure, notified to Congress, is expected to save US $7.5 million annually and is part of a broader State Department reorganization.
• This move stems from Trump administration's downsizing efforts and is not linked to the Iran war or recent protests.
• The Peshawar consulate, employing 18 American and 89 local staff, was a primary operations point for Afghanistan and a contact for US citizens.
• Consular services and US national interests will now be handled by the US Embassy in Islamabad, located 114 miles away.