The US State Department announced plans to permanently close its consulate in Peshawar, a key diplomatic mission near the Afghan border that served as a primary operations and logistics hub before, during, and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the AP says in a report.

The department notified Congress this week of its decision, citing annual savings of $7.5 million and stating that the closure would not hinder America’s ability to advance its national interests in Pakistan, according to a copy of the notification.

The closure has been under consideration for over a year, stemming from a broader effort to downsize federal agencies that began during the Trump administration.

Officials said the move is unrelated to the ongoing Iran conflict, which has sparked protests in Pakistani cities, including Karachi and Peshawar, prompting temporary suspensions of consulate operations.

The downsizing effort has included dismissals of thousands of diplomatic personnel and near-total layoffs at the US Agency for International Development.

Peshawar is the first overseas US diplomatic mission to close entirely under this reorganisation.

The consulate employs 18 American diplomats and other government staff, along with 89 local employees.

The closure will cost approximately $3 million, with $1.8 million allocated to relocating armoured trailers used as temporary office space.

The remaining funds will cover the transfer of vehicles, electronic equipment, telecommunications gear, and office furniture to the US Embassy in Islamabad and consulates in Karachi and Lahore.

The Peshawar facility’s location near the Afghan border had made it a key point for overland travel into Afghanistan and a contact centre for American citizens in northwestern Pakistan, as well as Afghan nationals seeking US assistance.

Following the closure, consular services for Americans and others in the region will be managed by the embassy in Islamabad, roughly 184km away.

“The closure would not adversely affect the mission’s ability to advance core US national interests, assist US citizens, or conduct adequate oversight of foreign assistance programs because all of those functions would continue to be performed by US Embassy Islamabad,” the notification said.