The Taliban’s Traffic Directorate reported on Wednesday that more than 4,000 traffic accidents have occurred on Afghanistan’s highways since the start of the current solar year in March 2024, resulting in approximately 2,000 fatalities.
Haseebullah Mokhtar, the Taliban’s head of the Traffic Department, stated that these accidents also left 700 others injured.
Speaking to state-run television under Taliban control, Mokhtar claimed that the number of recorded incidents is “lower” than the figures published by media outlets and organizations.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on December 19, 2024 on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. Two separate collisions involving passenger buses and gas tankers resulted in 52 deaths and 65 injuries. The accidents happened around 11 p.m., when two buses collided with gas tankers, leading to devastating fires and casualties.
Several factors have been identified as contributing to the high rate of traffic accidents in Afghanistan. Poor road conditions, a lack of proper traffic signage, driver negligence, and non-compliance with traffic regulations are frequently cited as primary causes.
Despite these challenges, the Taliban administration has not outlined concrete plans for improving infrastructure or implementing stricter traffic enforcement to address the ongoing safety concerns on the nation’s highways.
