Some countries shut consulates in Mazar-i-Sharif

KABUL (Pajhwok): Local sources say Iran, Turkey and Pakistan have suspended issuing visas to Afghans and have ceased their activities in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, following deteriorated security situation in the region.

Uzbekistan and Russia consulates have closed visa issuing sections of their consulates.

Balkh governor, Mohammad FarhadAzimi, confirmed that the consulates of some countries in Mazar-i-Sharif had slowed their services.

Representatives of some consulates have contacted the local administration and asked information about the ongoing situation, he said.

He said that he had shared information with the consulates but foreign diplomats told him they would travel to Kabul to consult their embassies.

“Representatives of some of consulates told me that they would travel to Kabul for consultations, so they left their consulates in Mazar-i-Sharif,” he said.

Azimi said that Turkey has shut its consulate in the city and Iran has reduced its personnel.

Uzbekistan and Russia consulates provide their services from Termez city of Uzbekistan which borders Balkh province, he said.

Meanwhile, a credible source told Pajhwok that Iran, Turkey and Pakistan have suspended issuing visas to Afghans in Mazar-i-Sharif city and their personnel had left the city.

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia had also limited their visa services for Afghans, the source added.

JaafarFatay, Uzbekistan consulate general in Balkh, also confirmed that they had applied some limitations in visa services.

He said that tourist visas had been stopped for now but people with commercial visas could openly travel to the country.

A government official in Hairatan port of Balkh said that Uzbekistan had imposed some restrictions on Afghans after the number of people traveling to the neighboring country unprecedentedly increased.

In normal circumstances, up to 200 people would travel to Uzbekistan in a day but the number jumped to 900 in recent days, the official added.

SayedKazim, who owns a touring company in Mazar-i-Sharif city, said that Iran had stopped issuing visas to Afghans since last three days.

“In the past, Iran would issue visas from 150 to 200 Afghans in a day, but the security situation deteriorated and the country closed its consulate,” he said.

He also said that Turkey, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and some other countries too had stopped visa services and had shut their consulates.

Ahmadullah, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif city said that he had been visiting Iran consulate every day in last 12 days, but failed to get visa each time.

He said that there was no work opportunity in Afghanistan and he wanted to legally travel to Iran for work.

Balkh governor said that he had assured all consulates about their security and personnel safety.

Pakistan embassy in Kabul said that they had shut their consulate in Kabul due to coronavirus, but rejected closing their consulate in Balkh.

Mds/ma

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