TRUCK CARRYING AFGHAN RETURNEES OVERTURNS, KILLING 18 IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN

Sat 30 May 2026:

At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan returnees overturned in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, according to local security officials quoted by local media.

The accident occurred in the Sorkhakan area of Laghman province during the morning hours. Officials said the vehicle was transporting Afghans who had recently returned to the country when it overturned, leaving dozens of passengers trapped or injured.

According to local authorities, emergency teams and residents rushed to the scene to assist victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Several of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

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The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and authorities said an investigation had been launched. Security officials quoted by local media said preliminary information suggested the truck was carrying a large number of passengers at the time of the accident.

The incident highlights the risks faced by many Afghan returnees as thousands continue to re-enter the country from neighboring states, often traveling long distances under difficult conditions. Overcrowded vehicles, poor road infrastructure and limited transportation options have contributed to frequent traffic accidents across Afghanistan.

Road crashes remain a major cause of death and injury in the country, where mountainous terrain, aging highways and inadequate safety measures often combine to create hazardous travel conditions.

According to the Human Rights Watch, Pakistan is actively enforcing mass deportations of Afghan migrants and refugees, driving thousands across the border daily. The aggressive repatriation campaign, which escalated significantly after border clashes in mid-October 2025, utilizes door-to-door police raids, arbitrary detentions, and the bulldozing of refugee camps.

The mass expulsions continue with the following characteristics:

Scale of Deportations: In 2026 alone, over 146,000 Afghans have been deported. Daily expulsions frequently exceed 4,000 people through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.
Expanded Scope: The government’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” began by targeting undocumented Afghans but has increasingly ensnared registered refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.
Human Rights Concerns: Human rights groups and UN experts have raised serious alarms. Families are often separated, with children deported without guardians, and vulnerable individuals.
Humanitarian Crisis: Returnees are pushed into border camps in Afghanistan lacking basic necessities like food, shelter, and medical care, placing massive strain on aid organizations.