Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has dismissed recent security warnings issued by Western countries regarding travel to Afghanistan, saying that concerns about the safety of foreign nationals in the country do not reflect the reality on the ground.
Mujahid stressed that foreign nationals face no serious security threats in Afghanistan and described Western travel advisories as unjustified.
Speaking to a media outlet in Kabul, he said such warnings create fear and concern among the public. However, he claimed that foreign tourists, journalists and other visitors continue to travel to Afghanistan without difficulty, adding that there are no restrictions on their movement.
The Taliban spokesperson further stated that similar security warnings have been issued over the past several years, but, according to him, foreign nationals have not suffered harm on a scale that would justify such concerns.
His remarks come as at least five countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Australia, have issued their highest-level travel advisories (Level 4) for Afghanistan.
These countries have urged their citizens to avoid travelling to Afghanistan due to security threats and the potential risks of arbitrary detention and kidnapping.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture spokesperson previously stated that more than 32,000 foreign tourists had visited various provinces and tourist destinations across Afghanistan over the past five years.
Taliban officials maintain that the country’s security situation has improved compared with previous years and that foreign nationals can travel to Afghanistan with confidence. However, continued travel warnings issued by Western governments indicate that their assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan remains at odds with the Taliban’s claims.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
