Reference News Network, March 12 report: According to the Associated Press, March 11 report, the U.S. State Department will permanently close its consular office in Peshawar, Pakistan. This consular office is the closest U.S. diplomatic mission to the Afghanistan border, and also served as a main operational and logistical hub before, during, and after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
Documents obtained by the Associated Press on the 11th show that the U.S. State Department has informed Congress this week of its plan to close the consular office, stating that the move would save $7.5 million annually in costs and would not negatively affect the U.S. ability to advance its national interests in Pakistan.
The report said that this move has been under consideration for more than a year, starting when the Trump administration began to reduce the scale of almost all federal agencies, and it is unrelated to the war against Iran. Protests against the war against Iran have erupted in several cities in Pakistan.
The notice dated the 10th shows that the Peshawar Consulate currently has 18 U.S. diplomats and other government personnel, and 89 local employees. The notice stated that closing the consulate would cost $3 million, with more than half (1.8 million dollars) used for relocating the mobile container offices that had served as temporary workspaces.
The notice also showed that the remaining funds would be used to transport the consulate's vehicle fleet, electronic and communication equipment, and office furniture to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, as well as to the other consulates in Karachi and Lahore.
The Peshawar Consulate has long been a key departure point for land entry into Afghanistan due to its proximity to the Afghan border and Kabul, and it has also been the main contact point for American citizens in northwest Pakistan and Afghans seeking U.S. aid.
The notice said that consular services for American citizens and other personnel will be handled by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, about 184 kilometers away.
The notice reads: "The closure of this consulate will not affect the embassy's ability to advance U.S. core national interests, assist American citizens, or fully supervise foreign assistance programs, because all relevant functions will continue to be carried out by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad." (Translated by Xu Yanhong)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7616216736668336676/
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