As many as eight diplomatic missions have either suspended or limited their consular operations in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital city of the northern key province of Balkh, a local official confirmed.
Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Germany have suspended operation of their consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital city of the province, according to Munir Ahmad Farhad, spokesperson for Balkh governor. He added that these countries have already taken their diplomats out of Mazar-e-Sharif.
Moreover, the local official confirmed that Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and India have stopped issuing visas for Afghans in this province.
He, however, confirmed that these five countries have still kept their diplomats in Balkh.
The local official stressed that the Afghan government has not influenced these missions to make such decisions. They have made these decisions independently, he dded.
Farhad did not provide details on why the countries made such decisions.
Suspension of these diplomatic missions, meanwhile, seems to be linked with the recent insecurity as the Taliban militants increasing attack districts in the province to expand their territorial control.
The militants have taken control over the districts of Chamtal, Kushanda, Dawlatabad, Char Bolak, Zari, and Kaldar over the last month.
