Two cyclists from Afghanistan Cycling Federation on Tuesday set off from Kabul for northern Balkh province to carry peace messages to anti-government groups. 

The two cyclists said the aim of their journey is to carry messages of peace but also to promote cycling in the country.

According to them, their journey may continue after Balkh as they hope to travel other provinces.   

“Our trip is aimed (at passing) a national message - a message of peace and law support,” Rohullah Nazari, a member of national cycling team said. 

“We will not travel to all provinces, because we do not have enough equipment but we will go to the provinces we can,” Aimal Nabizada, another member of the national cycling team said. 

The cyclists have set out on their journey despite the issue of parallel cycling federations not having yet been resolved. Currently there are two cycling federations in the country. 

Mohammad Hussain Hamidi, director of the Cycling Federation said the cyclists also pedal in the hope of encouraging reforms to be brought to the cycling federation. 

“We have a message for promotion of sport in Afghanistan … and today our athletes will carry peace messages from province to another province,” said Hamidi.