Islamabad, Aug 13 (PTI) Pakistan on Friday relaxed its visa policy for foreign journalists and media workers stuck in Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security situation.

In a statement, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said: "The Government of Pakistan has decided to ease its visa policy for journalists and media workers stranded in Afghanistan in view of the evolving situation in Afghanistan."

Also Read | NASA-Boeing CST-100 Starliner Spacecraft May Get Delayed by Several Months Due to Problem With Its Propulsion System.

Rashid urged foreign journalists and media workers "who want to leave Afghanistan via Pakistan" to apply for a Pakistani visa and the "interior ministry will issue visas to such international journalists and workers on a priority basis."

He said the government had taken the decision to relax the visa policy in consideration of the safety of the media personnel working in Afghanistan.

Also Read | Tesla Hopes to Start Production at Berlin Factory in October, Says Elon Musk.

The policy was relaxed in the wake of reports that the Taliban was closing in on capital Kabul, where most foreign journalists are based.

Sources said the External Publicity Wing of the Ministry of Information has already received requests from some journalists based in Kabul to relocate in Pakistan and continue coverage of the situation in Afghanistan.

In a blitz assault on Thursday, the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan's main cities Herat and Kandahar, encircling the national capital.

The insurgents are believed to control two-thirds of the country's territory and half of the 34 provincial capitals.

The assault comes in the backdrop of the US and NATO forces withdrawing from the war-torn country. All foreign troops will leave by August 31.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)