At least 18 people, including 10 children, died when an overloaded truck carrying Afghan families returning from Pakistan overturned on a major highway in eastern Afghanistan.
Jalalabad, Afghanistan — Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11:15 AM
A cargo truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan overturned on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway in Laghman province on Saturday, killing at least 18 people, including women and children, and injuring more than 30 others.
The accident occurred in the Qarghayi district near the Surkhakan intersection when the heavily loaded vehicle veered off the road around 5:30 AM local time.
Afghan returnees tragedy highlights South Asia migration strains
This incident underscores the humanitarian and logistical challenges facing Afghanistan and Pakistan amid large-scale returns of Afghans, straining infrastructure and raising concerns over road safety and support for displaced families in the region.
Accident details
According to provincial officials, the truck was transporting families who had recently returned from Pakistan and were heading towards Kabul. Many were carrying household belongings, contributing to the vehicle being overloaded.
Abdul Malik Niazay, spokesperson for the Laghman provincial governor, confirmed that at least 10 children were among the dead. Injured passengers were transferred to hospitals in neighbouring Nangarhar province, with some in critical condition.
Official response
Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed condolences and prayed for the recovery of the injured. The National Disaster Management Authority announced emergency financial assistance of 730,000 Afghanis (approximately USD 10,000) for affected families.
Truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan flips on highway
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. Some reports indicated the driver may have fallen asleep, though this remains under verification.
Background
Deadly road accidents are frequent in Afghanistan due to degraded highways, poor vehicle maintenance, and lax enforcement of traffic rules after decades of conflict. At least 20 people have reportedly died in similar incidents across the country in the past 10 days.
The tragedy occurs against the backdrop of Pakistan’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrants, which has led to the return of more than 447,000 Afghans in 2026 alone. Many families travel in overcrowded commercial trucks due to limited transport options, heightening risks during these journeys.
What’s next
Authorities are expected to complete their investigation into the truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan flips incident and may announce measures to improve road safety for returnees. The event calls for greater international support to manage repatriation safely and sustainably.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, May 31, 2026
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