Over 40 business persons kidnapped in Afghanistan since Taliban takeover

Kabul: Within a span of two months since the Taliban takeover, over 40 traders and business people have been abducted in Afghanistan, including capital Kabul, with many of the abducted persons being killed, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) has said.

With the scale of kidnappings, the businessmen in Afghanistan have expressed concerns over their safety, as well as criticized the move to disarm the businessmen.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said that the kidnappings have happened in Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Herat and Balk provinces.

“Around 40 cases have been recorded by the (ACCI),” said Khan Jan Alokozai, deputy chief of ACCI. “Sadly, a number of them have lost their lives. I must say that the disarmament of traders by the Islamic Emirate has caused these incidents.”

According to the (ACCI), four business people have been killed in fighting with kidnappers. “The disarming of businessmen is the reason behind their being killing and kidnapped,” he said.

According to Tolo News, the Ministry of Interior has said that they would soon issue weapon licenses to the traders in a bid to ensure their safety.

“The distribution process of weapon licenses will begin and we will issue them in the coming days. We will take their previous license and give them new ones,” said Saeed Khosti, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

The abductions come at a time when Afghanistan is seeing a massive collapse in investment and businesses as many traders have withdrawn their investment from the country following the collapse of the former government. (UNI)