In brief
Two people were killed and three were injured when a Hino truck collided with a rickshaw on a Kabul‑to‑eastern provinces highway in Laghman province. The accident, cited as caused by reckless driving, left the victims hospitalized in the provincial capital. The incident underscores ongoing road safety challenges in Afghanistan’s war‑torn roads.
A head‑on collision on the Kabul‑to‑eastern provinces highway in eastern Afghanistan’s Laghman province on Sunday evening left two people dead and three wounded, according to a statement from the provincial police office.
The smash‑up happened in the Azizkhan Kas region when a Hino truck crossed its lane and struck a rickshaw that was approaching from the opposite direction.
Police officials said that the truck’s driver was driving recklessly, forcing the vehicles into a fatal collision. The truck’s driver and the rickshaw’s driver were the two people who died on the scene, while the remaining three people who were on the rickshaw were taken to the Laghman provincial hospital for treatment.
Both the truck and the rickshaw were on the same stretch of road that connects the capital city of Kabul with the eastern provinces, a route that is heavily used for commerce and travel. The highway is known for its narrow lanes, sudden turns and lack of guardrails, conditions that can produce dangerous driving incidents.
Background on Road Safety in Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s road network has been steadily deteriorating over the past decade. Years of conflict, budget shortfalls and limited infrastructure investment have left many highways in poor condition. Many stretches are still unpaved or have potholes that can destabilize high‑speed vehicles, according to experts in transport safety.
The country also lacks sufficient enforcement of traffic regulations. Speed limits are often ignored, seat‑belt use is rare, and truck drivers frequently carry more cargo than regulations allow. Such factors combine to increase the risk of accidents, especially on long, flat stretches of highway where sudden braking can catch other road users off‑guard.
Afghan authorities have occasionally mounted public safety campaigns, but resources are scarce and the distance between police stations and remote communities can delay emergency response. The Afghan Health Ministry reports that many highway accidents result in fatalities simply because medical care is not immediately available. Deaths can occur before a person reaches a hospital, or because only basic treatment is offered.
The Laghman collision is one of many that have occurred in the province in recent months. Residents in the area complain of frequent accidents that stem from poor road conditions and bustling traffic, particularly during wedding celebrations and seasonal harvests when more people are on the roads.
In the aftermath of the crash, the provincial police announced that an investigation would be launched to determine the exact causes and whether either driver had violated traffic regulations beyond reckless driving. The investigation will also examine whether the road conditions or maintenance practices contributed to the accident.
Local community leaders in Laghman have called for renewed attention to road safety. One local elder said that many families in the province have lost loved ones to traffic accidents, and emphasized that “things will not change unless there is proper enforcement and better road maintenance.”
In short, the incident is a tragic reminder of the high cost of inadequate road safety in Afghanistan. It highlights the urgent need for improved infrastructure, stronger enforcement, and better emergency medical services if the country hopes to reduce the toll of road accidents moving forward.