Washington: The US State Department has decided to
permanently close its consulate in Peshawar.
According to the US news agency, the US consulate in
Peshawar was considered a key US diplomatic mission near the Afghan border. The
US State Department informed Congress about the decision this week. According
to the State Department, the closure of the consulate will save $7.5 million
annually and will not negatively affect the promotion of US national interests
in Pakistan.
According to the news agency, the Peshawar consulate was a
key center of operations and logistics before, during and after the US invasion
of Afghanistan in 2001. The decision was being considered for more than a year
and is part of the Trump administration’s plan to reduce the size of federal
agencies. while authorities also make it clear that the decision has nothing to
do with the Iran war.
Thousands of diplomatic staff were laid off last year as
part of the State Department’s reorganization, while the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) staff was also almost entirely laid off. However,
the Peshawar consulate will be the first diplomatic mission abroad to be
completely closed as a result of the State Department’s reorganization.
The Peshawar consulate is reportedly staffed by 18 U.S.
diplomats and other government officials, along with 89 local employees.
The closure of the U.S. consulate in Peshawar will cost
about $3 million. The bulk of the money will be spent on moving armored
trailers used as temporary offices, while the rest will be spent on moving
vehicles, electronic and telecommunications equipment, and office supplies to
the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
The State Department said consular affairs for U.S. citizens and others will now be handled by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
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