On Wednesday, the US Department of State announced the gradual closure of its Consulate General in Peshawar, citing improved resource management and safety concerns for its diplomatic staff.The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar will be closing gradually, according to the U.S. Department of State. The Embassy of the United States in Islamabad will be in charge of diplomatic relations with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This choice demonstrates our dedication to effective resource management and the security of our diplomatic staff," the department said in a statement.
The statement also stated that the US will continue to actively engage with Pakistani stakeholders in order to "advance the interests of the American people" even though its physical presence in Peshawar is diminishing."The Administration's strategic priorities in Pakistan are unchanged, even while our physical presence in Peshawar is shifting. In order to strengthen economic connections, enhance regional security, and further the interests of the American people, we will continue to have meaningful interactions with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's citizens and leaders," the statement stated.
The department added that its consulates in Karachi and Lahore as well as its embassy in Islamabad would continue to operate.
Following Israeli-US bombings that murdered Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there was protests in Pakistan on March 1. According to Dawn News, skirmishes between demonstrators and Pakistani law enforcement officers near the US Consulate in Karachi resulted in at least nine fatalities.

Due to safety concerns, the Department of State later ordered non-emergency US federal personnel and their families to evacuate Pakistan from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi on March 3.
The department also issued a warning about potential Iranian drone and missile assaults, as well as interruptions to commercial aviation, following the start of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28.
A threat of terrorist attacks in Pakistan was also mentioned in the advice. Although instances have also happened in big cities like Karachi and Islamabad, it stated that violent extremist organisations have carried out attacks, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former FATA region."Terrorists could launch an unexpected attack. Transportation hubs, hotels, marketplaces, shopping centers, military and security force locations, airports, trains, schools, hospitals, places of worship, tourist attractions, and government buildings are all targets, according to a previous statement from the US State Department.