At least 18 people, including women and children, were killed when a cargo truck carrying recently returned Afghan refugees from Pakistan overturned on a major highway in eastern Afghanistan, authorities said.

The crash took place in the Qarghayi district of Laghman province on Saturday, according to Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. The vehicle was heavily loaded with displaced families and their household belongings.

The accident occurred when the truck veered off the road at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time near the Surkhakan intersection, falling into a ditch after the driver reportedly fell asleep. Authorities confirmed that at least 10 children were among the dead.

More than 30 other passengers were injured, some critically, said Abdul Malik Niazay, a spokesperson for the Laghman provincial governor. Emergency services transported the wounded to medical facilities in neighbouring Nangarhar province, where several are receiving intensive care.

The central government expressed formal condolences to the victims' families. Mujahid conveyed deep sadness over the tragedy, which occurred at the end of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, and prayed for the injured's recovery. The National Disaster Management Authority announced 730,000 afghanis ($10,000) in emergency financial assistance for the affected families.

Deadly traffic accidents are a persistent issue in Afghanistan, exacerbated by decades of conflict that have degraded highways, led to poorly maintained vehicles, and resulted in lax enforcement of traffic regulations. Over the past 10 days, at least 20 people have died in three separate traffic accidents across the country.

This tragedy underscores the significant strain on Afghanistan's transportation infrastructure, particularly as hundreds of thousands of Afghans return from neighbouring countries. According to United Nations figures, more than 447,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan this year alone, following a crackdown on undocumented migrants by Islamabad.

International aid groups have raised concerns that forced expulsions are compelling families to undertake perilous journeys in overcrowded commercial cargo trucks, highlighting the hazardous conditions faced by returning refugees.