The United States has announced the permanent closure of its consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, according to a report by The Independent on Thursday. The U.S. State Department informed Congress of the decision, stating that the move would save about 7.5 million dollars annually without harming U.S. national interests in Pakistan. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the official notice confirming the closure.

The Peshawar consulate, located near the Afghan border, had been a key U.S. diplomatic post since the 2001 military campaign in Afghanistan. The decision follows the Trump administration’s policy of downsizing federal agencies and had been under consideration for over a year. The closure is not related to the ongoing Iran war, though protests erupted across Pakistan after the conflict began on February 28, leading to temporary suspension of operations at the Karachi consulate following deadly violence.

According to the notice, closing the Peshawar mission will cost 3 million dollars, mainly for relocating armored trailers and equipment to Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Consular services for the region will now be handled from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.