The U.S. Department of State announced the phased closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, citing personnel safety and resource management, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was shaken by the daylight assassination of senior Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai.
In a media note dated May 5, 2026, the Office of the Spokesperson said the Department of State is “announcing the phased closure of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar. “Responsibility for diplomatic engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will transfer to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad. The Department stated the decision “reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management.”
While the physical post will close, the Department added that “policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast,” and the U.S. Mission will continue operating through diplomatic posts in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
The consulate announcement came the same morning that renowned scholar and former JUI-F MPA Maulana Muhammad Idrees Tarangzai was shot dead in a targeted attack in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda.
According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, four unidentified assailants on two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on Maulana Idrees’s vehicle at approximately 08:10 AM. The cleric, also known as “Sheikh al-Hadith” and closely associated with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, was killed on the spot or succumbed to injuries en route to hospital. Two police constables assigned to his security detail, Constable Sher Alam and Constable Pervez Khan, were critically injured.
Police said initial evidence indicates a targeted killing. The Counter Terrorism Department and Charsadda District Police have formed joint investigation teams, recovered 9mm shell casings, and are analyzing Safe City camera footage of the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility.
JUI-F announced province-wide protests and a complete strike across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today, May 6. Senator Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman condemned the assassination, stating, “This situation is intolerable. Workers will take to the streets tomorrow to protest against lawlessness.”
It may be added here that the U.S. State Department currently maintains Pakistan at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa listed under Level 4: Do Not Travel advisories. The advisory notes that “terrorist attacks typically happen in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” and that “terrorists target transportation hubs, hotels, malls, places of worship, tourist spots and other places.”
The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantt. For consular services following the closure, the State Department directs inquiries to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
