Reports say that this year threats such as kidnappings for ransom and theft have significantly increased against money exchangers in the eastern province of Nangarhar. 

In the latest incident, two armed men entered a money exchange shop in Jalalabad city on Wednesday night, killing the forex dealer and wounding three others.

In protest, forex dealers across the country staged demonstrations on Thursday to show their anger about the rising threats.

The incidents took place when dealers were on lunch or busy with prayers.

“The murderers have not been arrested so far. We talked with the governor and the police chief many times. They vowed to ensure our safety, but that did not happen,” said Abdul Rahman Hadawal, head of Forex Dealers Union in Nangarhar. 

“A number of armed men are roaming in the city. They have disturbed the security of the city. No one cares,” said Ajmal Rahmani, chairman of businessmen union of Nangarhar. 

The forex dealers protested the incident in Kabul, Herat and other cities in Afghanistan. They said they will not get back to their business until government pays “serious attention” to their safety.  

“We fear the day when no investor will remain here. All will leave the country if this continued,” said Amin Jan Khosti, member of forex dealers union in Kabul. 

“If this is an Muslim country, then there are certain punishments for thieves, murderers and kidnappers,” said Haji Zeerak, member of union. 
Officials of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACI) meanwhile said the ignorance by the security forces has led to the rising threats against forex dealers in the country. 

“The security situation is worse. It fully undermines investment, especially in Jalalabad, Kabul, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif cities as well as in Kunduz,” Khan Jan Alokozai, the deputy head of ACCI told TOLOnews. 

“The Ministry of Interior has assigned a team to talk with forex dealers. We are ready to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of investors,” the Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.         

According to ACCI, so far this year five forex dealers have been killed only in Nangarhar while two other dealers from Kabul are still in the custody of the kidnappers. ACCI notes that so far this year, over 98 cases of kidnappings, murders and theft against forex dealers have been recorded in the country.