The Taliban-led Ministry of Transport announced Sunday it has suspended the operations of 40 passenger buses due to “technical issues.”
In a statement released by the ministry, the decision was described as part of efforts to ensure passenger safety and standardize vehicles in the country.
The suspension follows two devastating traffic accidents last week on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. Two passenger buses collided with two gas tankers, resulting in 52 fatalities and leaving around 80 others injured, according to Taliban officials.
The accidents occurred late Wednesday night, December 18, just 15 kilometers apart along the highway. In response to the incidents, the Taliban suspended the operations of two transportation companies linked to the accidents.
The ministry said the decision was made during an emergency meeting on December 19, chaired by Abdul Salam Haidari, the Deputy Minister of Road Transport, alongside senior officials from the Taliban’s Interior Ministry and the General Directorate of Traffic.
The Taliban authorities emphasized that the measures are aimed at preventing further accidents and improving safety standards on the country’s highways.
