NANGARHAR, Afghanistan — A vehicle belonging to the Taliban’s intelligence service struck and killed two women in eastern Afghanistan, local sources said Sunday.
The crash happened Saturday evening in the Chamtali area of Khogyani district, about 30 miles southwest of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Taliban’s Hilux pickup was traveling at high speed when it hit two women walking home from a market.
Sayed Tayeb Hamad, a spokesman for the Taliban’s provincial police headquarters, confirmed the incident and blamed the driver’s recklessness and excessive speed. He said the driver was arrested and will be referred to judicial authorities.
The Taliban, who seized power in August 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, maintain an intelligence branch known as the General Directorate of Intelligence. The unit operates armed patrols and frequently moves at high speed through urban and rural areas.
Traffic enforcement in Afghanistan has weakened since the Taliban takeover, and local residents have repeatedly raised concerns about reckless driving by armed Taliban personnel. Similar road accidents have drawn public anger, with residents accusing Taliban fighters of ignoring traffic laws and driving carelessly.
