The increase in cases of kidnapping and murder, especially of doctors, is causing alarm among residents of Balkh province.

They asked the security officials to arrest and punish the perpetrators.

"We ask the authorities and the military departments to pay serious attention so that our doctors can work comfortably,” said Fazel Rahim Houshmand, a doctor.

"All of our professionals are concerned about their lives as well as the lives of their families,” said Sayed Adilshah, a doctor.

"We worry that something may happen to us and our family when we leave the house in the morning," said Ahmad Siyar, a doctor.

"The security situation is gradually getting worse; we ask the government to improve the situation again," said Balkh resident Fazel Rahman.

Meanwhile, the Balkh Police Command officials promised that the perpetrators of the recent incidents will be arrested and punished.

"We hope to find the perpetrators of Dr. Asadullah Shariq and bring them to justice,” said Mohammad Asif Waziri, the spokesman of the Balkh Police Command.

These concerns were raised when Asadullah Shariq, one of Mazar-e-Sharif's well-known doctors, was recently shot and killed by unidentified armed men while returning to his home in the PD7.