Shah Hossein Murtazawi, a former spokesman for the Afghan presidency and adviser to former President Ashraf Ghani, says his bicycle was stolen during Taliban rule.
Speaking to the BBC, Murtazawi said Afghans continue to face unemployment and economic hardship under the Taliban and argued that fundamental measures are needed to improve public services and people’s living conditions.
His comments come as crime statistics released by Afghanistan’s National Statistics and Information Authority, under Taliban control, show a significant increase in registered criminal cases in recent years.
According to the available figures, the number of registered criminal cases increased from around 10,000 in 2021 to more than 17,000 in 2024 — an increase of roughly 60% over three years.
The largest increase was recorded in theft. Reported theft cases rose from 3,102 in 2021 to 6,225 in 2024, nearly doubling during the period.
The Taliban have not published updated figures for overall criminal cases after 2024, leaving no comparable official data for subsequent years.
The rise in recorded theft has occurred alongside persistent economic difficulties, unemployment and reduced income opportunities in Afghanistan. These pressures can further strain household finances and increase vulnerability among low-income communities.
Murtazawi also linked the broader challenges facing Afghans to the need for fundamental improvements in public services and economic welfare.
The available figures do not, by themselves, establish a direct causal link between economic hardship and the rise in crime. However, they indicate that crime and livelihood pressures remain significant issues in the daily lives of many Afghans, alongside the country’s broader political and security challenges.
