Western tourists attacked in Afghanistan, six wounded

A group of western tourists on a sight-seeing adventure tour of Afghanistan have been ambushed by Taliban gunmen with at least six people wounded.

Militants opened fire on the foreigners in the western province of Herat, as they were travelling with an Afghan army escort. The group were heading for Herat, the country’s ancient cultural centre, close to the Iranian border.

Jaliani Farhard, a spokesman for Herat’s governor, said the tourists included eight Britons, three US citizens and one German. Two of the British citizens were believed to be from Scotland.

“The convoy was ambushed by the Taliban in Chesht-e-Sharif district. The tourists were on their way to Herat from Bamiyan and Ghor provinces,” Farhard said.

A military spokesman said the attack left at least five foreign tourists and their Afghan driver wounded, adding that they were now being taken to Herat city.

It was unclear what the tourists were doing in Afghanistan. But there was speculation that the party had gone there with Hinterland Travel, a small British tour operator based in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, and run by veteran tour guide Geoff Hann.

The Hinterland Travel website page listing the planned tours to Afghanistan

The company specialises in adventure tours to war-torn countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. It has defended travelling to Afghanistan despite foreign office advice to avoid it. Promotional material describes Afghanistan as at the “cutting edge of adventure tourism, which in itself can offer benefits and progress”.

The firm’s latest 21-day tour, advertised on its website, began on 26 July. It says tourists arrive in the capital Kabul and then travel by road to the Bamiyan valley, home of giant Buddha statues blown up by the Taliban in 2001.

From Bamiyan, the route continues through the centre of the country and its scenic lakes to Herat, with the journey described as “tough but beautiful”.

The website says: “The country is desperately poor. Frankly it needs any help that we or anyone can provide … The main roads had become diabolical but are now being totally reconstructed. The Afghan people are friendly and cheerfully welcoming, although wary until we can prove that we are travellers and not something else. Ancient and recent history are scattered everywhere, from Buddhist remains to burnt out tanks.”

The Taliban have not officially claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday. It comes as militants intensify their annual summer offensive after a brief lull during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which ended in early July.