The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “strongly” advised its citizens against traveling to Afghanistan following an attack on foreign tourists in the country.
In an official statement, the ministry expressed concern over “terrorist attacks” targeting foreign visitors in Afghanistan.
On the evening of May 17, armed assailants attacked a group of foreign tourists and their Afghan companions in Bamiyan province.
According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, six individuals, including three foreign nationals and three Afghan citizens, were killed, and seven others, including four foreigners, were injured in the attack.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Highlighting this incident, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.
The statement, published on the ministry’s official website on Monday, declared, “Given the current circumstances, the security situation in Afghanistan is extremely challenging, and we ‘strongly’ advise against traveling to this country for personal reasons, including tourism.”
Meanwhile, Joe Sheffer, founder of the Safarat tourism agency, told AFP that if the attacks persist, “Afghanistan’s tourism industry will be over.”
Sheffer mentioned that following the attack in Bamiyan, several clients canceled their trips to Afghanistan, prompting the agency to reassess its operations in the country.
He told AFP, “We will reduce group sizes… We are canceling itineraries in remote locations… We are reducing walking in public places.”
