Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said a sharp increase in kidnappings of businessmen and their relatives will negatively affect investment in the country and will push business owners to move their capital abroad. 

Earlier this week, ACCI officials said they registered at least 13 kidnapping cases, involving businessmen and their relatives, in the last week.

In a recent case, a number of unknown armed men tried to kidnap Daud Musa, a national investor, from Qala-e-Fathullah area in Kabul. The kidnappers failed but Musa was wounded in the incident.

The ACCI deputy chief Khan Jan Alokozay said the institution has registered 15 kidnapping cases in the last month – all of which were businessmen.

“Investment and businesses are getting worse every day. We will face many problems if small investments, which have created job opportunities for many people, face further threats,” Alokozay told TOLOnews.

“The Afghan security forces’ abilities to ensure the safety of the people are improving every day and our trust in these forces is gaining momentum,” said Musafir Qoqandi, spokesman for the ministry of commerce and industries.

Meanwhile, the ministry of interior’s spokesman Najib Danish said they have new plans on hand to better ensure the safety of investors across the country. 

“We have new plans based on which we will better ensure the safety of investors,” he said. “We expect businessmen to share (reports) with us whenever they receive any threat.”