At least 136 people have been killed in traffic accidents in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province over the past year, according to Taliban police figures, underscoring ongoing road safety challenges in one of the country’s most remote regions.
The provincial police command spokesman Ihsanullah Kamgar said 122 traffic incidents were recorded during that period, leaving another 175 people injured.
He said they would increase enforcement against drivers who violate traffic laws, warning of stricter measures to curb dangerous driving.
He attributed the accidents primarily to severely damaged roads and driver negligence. Badakhshan, a mountainous province in northeastern Afghanistan, has limited infrastructure, with many roads unpaved or in poor condition, particularly in rural areas.
The toll reflects a broader pattern across Afghanistan, where traffic accidents have increased in recent months, according to local reports, with dozens of fatalities recorded nationwide.
Residents have criticized what they describe as insufficient attention to road maintenance and a lack of traffic signs and enforcement. They say traffic accidents, alongside natural disasters and conflict-related violence, remain among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the country.
Afghanistan has long struggled with road safety, with factors including poor infrastructure, limited emergency response services and weak regulatory enforcement contributing to high fatality rates. Analysts say that without sustained investment in road networks and stricter oversight, accidents are likely to remain a major public safety concern.
