Three countries have temporarily closed their consulates in Afghanistan’s northern Mazar-i-Sharif city, the capital of Balkh province, over security fears.
Turkey, Pakistan and Iran have stopped issuing visas in the city and their diplomats have moved to capital Kabul.
Balkh Governor Mohammad Farhad Azimi said that the consulates were closed despite local Afghan authorities assuring protection of the facilities.
Sources said that Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have also restricted visas to Afghans as security situation started deteriorating.
Taliban have made rapid territorial gains after foreign forces began full withdrawal from Afghanistan in May.
Amid the withdrawal, Australia closed its embassy in Kabul over security fears.
There have also been reports that the US has stepped up planning for emergency evacuation of its embassy in Kabul.
The US Embassy, however, said on Sunday that there were no plans for closing the embassy.
The embassy said it is “constantly planning for contingencies & how to mitigate risks to our people & programs.”
“We are aware of security challenges to operating in #Afghanistan, & we will adjust our presence as necessary to address these challenges,” the embassy said on Twitter.
