The US State Department on Monday announced the permanent closure of its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, marking the first such shutdown of an overseas mission in the current administration's second term. Responsibility for engagement in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will transfer to the US Embassy in Islamabad, located approximately 114 miles away.

Officials cited a combination of security risks, cost savings, and shifting logistical needs following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan as the primary drivers for the decision. The closure comes despite recent public praise from President Donald Trump toward Pakistan’s leadership for its role as a mediator with Iran.

The move coincides with a broader 'Reduction in Force' (RIF) that resulted in the layoff of more than 200 career diplomats and Foreign Service Officers on Monday. The cuts have primarily targeted bureaus focused on human rights, refugees, and democracy promotion. Additionally, the administration is dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with many of its functions being curtailed or absorbed.

High-stakes negotiations, including those regarding Iran’s nuclear program, are increasingly being managed by political loyalists and informal envoys rather than career subject-matter experts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently managing an expanded national security portfolio, defended the administrative shifts during a press briefing on Tuesday.

The US Embassy in Islamabad will immediately assume all diplomatic and consular duties for the region. Personnel previously stationed in Peshawar have been instructed to return government equipment as the transition concludes.