Taliban government announces aid after truck crash kills 18 Afghan returnees

At least 18 people, including 10 children, were killed and more than 30 injured when a cargo truck carrying Afghan families returning from Pakistan overturned on a major highway in eastern Afghanistan. The crash occurred in the Qarghayi district of Laghman province on Saturday at approximately 5:30am local time near the Surkhakan intersection. Authorities stated the vehicle veered off the road and fell into a ditch after the driver fell asleep.

The victims were families who had been temporarily staying in eastern Kunar province and were en route to the capital, Kabul. Provincial Director of Public Health Aminullah Sharif confirmed the cause of the accident as driver fatigue. Abdul Malik Niazay, spokesperson for the Laghman provincial governor, provided details on the number of injured passengers, noting that several patients remained in intensive care at medical facilities in neighbouring Nangarhar province.

The Taliban government announced 730,000 afghanis ($10,000) in emergency financial assistance for the affected families. The National Disaster Management Authority confirmed the specific amount of aid provided. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed condolences on X, noting the tragedy occurred at the end of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. He stated that the government was deeply saddened by the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Deadly traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan due to severely degraded highways, poorly maintained vehicles, and seldom-enforced traffic regulations following decades of conflict. At least 20 people have been killed in three separate traffic accidents across Afghanistan over the past 10 days. The incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by Afghan returnees, with United Nations figures indicating that over 447,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan this year amid a crackdown on undocumented migrants.

International aid groups warn that forced expulsions are compelling families to travel in hazardous, packed commercial cargo trucks. The exact number of fatalities may change as emergency services continue to treat the critically injured in Nangarhar province. The precise cause of the driver falling asleep is attributed to authorities but has not been independently verified.