Collision of a bus transporting Afghan deportees from Iran results in numerous fatalities
In the troubled region of Herat Province, a tragic event unfolded as a bus carrying recently deported Afghans from Iran crashed, resulting in the loss of at least 76 lives, including innocent children.
The collision occurred on a highway, with video footage showing the bus engulfed in flames and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. The vehicle, which departed from Islam Qala, a town near the Afghanistan-Iran border, was heading towards the capital Kabul when the accident occurred.
The sudden increase in deportations of Afghans by Iran, a programme announced in March, has been a politically charged move triggered by regional conflict and economic hardship. After a brief conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Iran sharply increased deportations, accusing the Afghans—without evidence—of spying for Israel. This allegation served as a political pretext to justify expelling Afghans, who had long been viewed by Iranian authorities as a social, economic, and security burden.
Economic difficulties in Iran, including sanctions, inflation, and unemployment, have fueled public resentment towards Afghan refugees, often scapegoated for job competition. The deportations align with Iran’s broader goal to reduce the Afghan refugee population, which numbered over 5 million across Iran and Pakistan before the surge.
The campaign has drawn widespread condemnation for breaching international law, notably the non-refoulement principle that prohibits returning refugees to places where they face serious threats. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and partners advocate against the deportations, emphasizing protection needs and urging predictable, humane responses to displacement.
The scale of forced movement is described by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as potentially one of the largest forced displacements globally in the last decade. The returns complicate reintegration, especially for vulnerable groups like women and girls, amid Afghanistan’s ongoing socio-economic and human rights challenges.
As of July 2025, approximately 1.1 million Afghans were expelled, with plans to deport up to 4 million. The United Nations reports more than half a million Afghans were expelled from Iran in the 16 days following the end of the conflict. The abrupt rise in deportations and claims of Afghans spying has attracted international condemnation.
International humanitarian and refugee organizations remain engaged through regional response plans and the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees to address urgent needs and seek long-term solutions. Mufti Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, the governor spokesperson, provided information about the crash to CNN.
This heart-wrenching incident underscores the urgent need for a humane approach to the displacement crisis, with the international community urging Iran to reconsider its deportation policy and prioritise the protection and well-being of vulnerable refugees.
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