The United States (U.S.) will close its consulate in Pakistan’s Peshawar, citing the safety of its diplomats, the State Department said in a statement published on Tuesday.
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad will handle all diplomatic engagement and consulate work from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital, the State Department said.
“This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management,” the statement said.
It further added, “While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the Administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast. We will continue to engage meaningfully with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to foster economic ties, promote regional security, and advance the interests of the American people.”
Impact Of War
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders Afghanistan, and has seen attacks and fierce fighting between Pakistan forces and what Islamabad says are Afghan-backed militants.
Ten people were killed in March when protesters breached the outer wall of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes on Iran.
On March 3, the Department of State later asked non-emergency US government employees and family members from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety concerns.
The department was also warned of possible drone and missile attacks from Iran, along with disruptions to commercial flights, following the onset of hostilities between Iran and the US.
The advisory noted a risk of terrorist violence in Pakistan, as reported by ANI. It said violent extremist groups have carried out attacks, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former FATA region, though incidents have also occurred in major cities such as Karachi and Islamabad.
“Terrorists may strike without warning. They target transportation hubs, hotels, markets, malls, military and security forces sites, airports, trains, schools, hospitals, places of worship, tourist spots, and government buildings,” the US state department’s prior statement noted.
(With inputs from Reuters)
