Kabul bans motorbikes to stem Taliban attacks

Delivery drivers will be exempt from the ban, which follows a series of attacks by armed men on motorbikes

Authorities in Kabul are banning motorcycles and scooters in the Afghan capital in a bid to control rampant crime and stop assailants on two-wheelers conducting targeted killings, officials said on ApShow more

Authorities in Kabul will ban motorcycles and scooters in the Afghan capital to control rampant crime and stop assailants on two-wheelers conducting targeted killings, officials said on Tuesday.

The ban, which takes effect on Wednesday, comes after a string of assaults by armed men on motorbikes.

Delivery riders, who are heavily in demand amid Kabul’s coronavirus lockdown, will be exempt.

“Most of the crimes in the city, including targeted killings and other crimes, are carried out using motorbikes,” interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian told AFP.

“We have therefore decided to ban the use of the motorbikes in Kabul city and its districts.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a security official told AFP that the Taliban are assassinating more and more government officials.

“They all use motorbikes to do hit-and-runs,” the official said, noting that street robberies by thieves on motorcycles and scooters were also on the rise.

Earlier this month, two of President Ashraf Ghani’s bodyguards were shot dead in separate attacks by armed men on motorbikes, the official said.

Motorcycle bans have been implemented in other parts of Afghanistan, but this is the first such restriction in the capital.

“It improved the security in other provinces – it is going to improve the security in Kabul too,” the official said.

As overwhelmed police forces are busy battling the Taliban, rampant poverty and rising unemployment have worsened Kabul’s security situation, making drive-by shootings, car thefts, and the snatching of phones and wallets commonplace.

Motorcycles and scooters are popular in Kabul. Riders use them to cut through the city’s notorious traffic, which is frequently gridlocked for hours.