Following Attack On Foreign Tourists, Russia Warns Citizens Not To Travel To Afghanistan

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has "strongly" urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan due to an attack on foreign tourists in the country.

In a statement, the ministry expressed concern over "terrorist attacks" on foreign tourists in Afghanistan.

On Friday evening, May 17, armed assailants attacked foreign tourists and their companions in the Bamiyan province.

According to the Taliban's Ministry of Interior, six people, 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 attack.

Referring to this attack, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

The statement, published on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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 continue, "Afghanistan’s tourism industry will be over."

Sheffer said that after the armed attack in Bamiyan, several clients canceled their trips to Afghanistan, and the agency is reviewing its operations in the country.

He told AFP, "We will reduce group sizes... We are cancelling itineraries in remote locations... We are reducing walking in public places."