Truck carrying returning Afghan refugees overturns in Eastern Afghanistan; 18 dead, 35 injured

Kabul: At least 18 people, including 10 children and five women, were killed and 35 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan overturned on a highway in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday.

According to Abdul Malik Niazi, spokesperson for the governor of Laghman province, the accident occurred on the main highway linking Kabul with neighboring Nangarhar province. Most of the injured are women and children, and they have been shifted to hospitals in Nangarhar for treatment.

Taliban Government Mourns Victims

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact cause of the accident.

Road accidents remain a major concern in Afghanistan due to poor road infrastructure, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and frequent violations of traffic regulations.

Refugees Returning Amid Regional Crackdowns

The passengers were among thousands of Afghan refugees who have recently returned from Pakistan. Since launching a nationwide crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2023, Pakistan has deported large numbers of Afghans and pressured many others to leave the country.

At the same time, Iran has also intensified the repatriation of Afghan migrants. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Afghans, including many who were born and raised in Pakistan and had spent decades living and working there, have been forced to return to Afghanistan in recent years.

The latest tragedy highlights the difficult and often dangerous conditions faced by returning refugees as they attempt to rebuild their lives in a country already struggling with economic hardship and limited infrastructure.