Several drivers in Kabul have expressed concern over a recent increase in armed robberies. They say that after nightfall, due to insecurity, they are unable to pick up passengers on routes extending beyond the city center and into the suburbs. The drivers add that some thieves operate in groups, hiring vehicles on a private, full-trip basis, and then luring drivers onto secondary roads where they carry out robberies. According to them, the thieves not only steal the property of drivers and passengers, but in some cases also harm them.
From the drivers’ perspective, this situation, combined with rising fuel and gas prices, has negatively affected their income. They also say that their trust in passengers has recently declined, and they are now forced to pick up every passenger with suspicion.
Some of these drivers told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that insufficient attention is being paid to the city’s suburbs and that security in these areas is not being pursued seriously. According to them, despite claims that security has been established, drivers cannot confidently operate on routes far from the city center, especially at night. These drivers stress that if this situation continues, they will be forced to stop working during night hours.
Qand Agha, one of the drivers in Kabul city, expressed concern over increasing security risks for drivers and ambushes by armed robbers after dark. He says he is forced to work day and night to provide for his family, but insecurity and rising robberies have restricted his work and negatively affected his income. According to him, due to security threats, drivers are now unable to travel to distant areas after nightfall.
He says: “For five years we have been working from 11 in the morning until 2 or 3 at night. Nighttime is good in terms of traffic, but passengers are scarce, and most nights we remain without passengers. During the day, the situation is better; we go in every direction, and there are many passengers, but at night it is very difficult. We do not go to many places because poverty and hunger among people have increased compared to the past, and it is dangerous. Robberies have increased; we do not go to areas such as Arzan Qimat, and if we do, we only go to the main road. Unemployment and poverty are high. People even kill for 100 afghanis.”
Shirshah, another driver in Kabul city, says he does not work at night due to the rise in armed robberies after dark. He adds that insecurity has limited his activity, and he only transports people he knows during the night.
This driver says, “These days, if someone calls at night, I only take them if I know them. I do not go, because there is a risk of robbery. I work during the day, but at night I sometimes go to weddings or see known people. Traveling at night is not possible. Going to distant places with strangers is very dangerous. Although nighttime is better in terms of fuel consumption, there is no security. Daily, up to 1,000 afghanis is spent only on fuel, and with this situation, it is difficult to cover household expenses.”
The driver also says that not working at night has affected his income, and he is barely able to cover his family’s expenses. He adds, “We work day and night, but there is no income that allows savings. It only covers household expenses, which we are thankful for. Now, only 300 to 400 afghanis remain. Vehicle costs and fuel prices are also high.”
Ali, another driver, says that due to heavy traffic congestion and Taliban checkpoints during the day, and rising armed robberies and insecurity at night, he is unable to work properly. He adds that this situation has reduced his income and placed him under financial pressure. According to him, real security in the city could provide a safer working environment for drivers.
He says: “During the day, the Juy-e Shir, Taimani, and Dasht-e Barchi routes are heavily congested, so we mostly work at night. Night work is good, but there is no security. In recent days, insecurity has increased a lot. A few days ago, one of our colleagues was working at night when unknown people boarded his vehicle as passengers, took the car, and beat him almost to death. Because of this, the situation is bad, and we cannot work at night. Our demand from the authorities is to ensure security so that people can bring a piece of bread home in peace.”
The Taliban have repeatedly spoken of establishing “sustainable security” across Afghanistan, especially in the capital. According to Kabul residents, in many cases, armed thieves steal vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and mobile phones from people, and if there is resistance, victims are injured and sometimes even killed. However, the Taliban continue to deny these incidents and, in their speeches and statements, consider the security of citizens to be ensured.
At the same time, the 2025 Global Peace Index shows that Afghanistan ranks low among the world’s most unstable countries and is identified as the fifth most insecure country globally and the most unstable in South Asia. In the safety and security category, Afghanistan ranks 163rd, the lowest globally, and its level of peace has decreased by 0.28 percent. In addition, in critical indicators, Afghanistan has received the worst possible score of 5 out of 5.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
