US to close consulate in Pakistan's Peshawar citing safety concerns

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, ‌May 6 (Reuters) - ​The ​United States will close its consulate in Pakistan's ‌Peshawar, citing the safety of its ⁠diplomats, the State Department said in ‌a statement published ‌on Tuesday.

The U.S. embassy in Islamabad will handle all diplomatic ​engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital, ⁠the State Department said.

"This decision reflects our ​commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient ​resource management," the statement ‌said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders Afghanistan, and has seen attacks ⁠and fierce fighting between Pakistan forces and what Islamabad says are ⁠Afghan-backed militants.

Ten people were killed in March ​when protesters breached the outer wall of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan's ‌biggest city, after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ‌Khamenei was killed in strikes ⁠on Iran.

(Reporting by ‌Mushtaq Ali ​in Peshawar, Writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Kate ‌Mayberry)

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