Chicago – March 12, 2026
The United States has announced it will permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, marking the end of America’s closest diplomatic mission to the Afghan border. The U.S. State Department notified Congress this week of the decision, which officials say will save about $7.5 million annually while continuing to advance American interests in the region from other diplomatic posts.
The Peshawar consulate, established as a key operations and logistics hub before, during and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, has employed 18 American diplomats and 89 local staff. The department plans to spend roughly $3 million on the closure, including relocating equipment and facilities to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and other consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
Consular services for U.S. citizens and others in northwestern Pakistan will now be managed by the embassy in Islamabad, about 114 miles (184 kilometers) from Peshawar. The State Department maintains the closure will not reduce its ability to protect U.S. citizens or conduct foreign assistance oversight in Pakistan.
