Deadly Herat Accident: Are the Taliban Involved?
Kokcha News Agency: A devastating bus accident in Herat, Afghanistan, has left 79 people dead, including 17 children. Among the victims were former soldiers of the previous Afghan government, who had been deported from Iran and were traveling with their families.
The Taliban’s Al-Farouq unit in western Afghanistan announced that the victims’ bodies were transported to Kabul by two planes. The incident has sparked widespread grief and raised serious questions about its cause.
Contrary to local Taliban officials’ claims, some reports suggest the bus did not collide with another vehicle but suddenly exploded. Experts have questioned why the bus caught fire immediately after the accident, leading to severe burns that made over half of the bodies unidentifiable.
This has fueled speculation about the true cause of the disaster. Reports of the military background of some victims have added to the mystery, especially given the Taliban’s history of targeting former soldiers deported from Iran.
The Taliban have denied such claims, asserting their commitment to the “general amnesty” declared by their leader. However, independent reports and human rights organizations have documented the Taliban’s continued persecution of former soldiers and government employees.
The Taliban’s immediate response—expressing condolences, blaming transport companies, and deflecting responsibility—has further raised suspicions about their potential involvement.
