In a devastating accident in western Afghanistan, a bus carrying deported Afghan migrants from Iran has collided with a truck and motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of 79 individuals, including 17 children. The Taliban's interior ministry confirmed the incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, as the bus was traveling towards Kabul.
A spokesperson for the Taliban's cultural department in Herat, Ahmadullah Mottaqi, indicated that everyone on the bus perished in the fire that erupted post-collision, along with two people from the other vehicles involved, as reported by BBC Pashto.
This tragedy comes amid Iran's heightened efforts to deport undocumented Afghan migrants, many of whom fled their war-torn country. Provincial governor spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi noted that all passengers boarded the bus in Islam Qala, a border town.
Authorities attribute the crash to "excessive speed and negligence" by the bus driver, with traffic accidents being commonplace in Afghanistan due to poorly maintained roads and lax enforcement of driving laws. Millions of Afghans have fled to neighboring Iran and Pakistan since the 1970s due to conflict, with a recent spike in deportations following tensions between Iran and Israel.
Since January, over 1.5 million Afghans have reportedly returned from Iran, escalating pressure on Afghanistan's limited resources under Taliban governance. As the country struggles to accommodate returning nationals, experts warn that many deportees could face dire conditions amid reduced international aid and growing local tensions.
A spokesperson for the Taliban's cultural department in Herat, Ahmadullah Mottaqi, indicated that everyone on the bus perished in the fire that erupted post-collision, along with two people from the other vehicles involved, as reported by BBC Pashto.
This tragedy comes amid Iran's heightened efforts to deport undocumented Afghan migrants, many of whom fled their war-torn country. Provincial governor spokesperson Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi noted that all passengers boarded the bus in Islam Qala, a border town.
Authorities attribute the crash to "excessive speed and negligence" by the bus driver, with traffic accidents being commonplace in Afghanistan due to poorly maintained roads and lax enforcement of driving laws. Millions of Afghans have fled to neighboring Iran and Pakistan since the 1970s due to conflict, with a recent spike in deportations following tensions between Iran and Israel.
Since January, over 1.5 million Afghans have reportedly returned from Iran, escalating pressure on Afghanistan's limited resources under Taliban governance. As the country struggles to accommodate returning nationals, experts warn that many deportees could face dire conditions amid reduced international aid and growing local tensions.
