Afghan refugees along with their belongings in trucks await deportation to Afghanistan near the Chaman border crossing. Photo: AFP
TORKHAM:
Pakistan on Saturday reopened the Torkham border crossing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for returning Afghan refugees, ending a nearly two-week closure following deadly clashes between border forces last month.
Meanwhile, nearly 10,700 people returned across the Chaman border in a single day as authorities expanded the process to crossing.
The repatriation of Afghan families with or without travel or identity documents was abruptly suspended on October 11 following border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which continued for days before a ceasefire was formalized in Doha on October 19.
Pakistan had closed all its borders with Afghanistan to all types of movement. Since then, large numbers of returning families have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Torkham border.
Trade between the countries has remained suspended since then, causing prices for essential products, especially tomatoes, to rise.
Although Islamabad and Kabul decided on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that “the border remains closed to trade for now” and that resumption of trade would depend on the security situation.
Officials previously said all relevant staff members had been informed to ensure their presence at the service on Saturday morning. It was unclear whether Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan would be allowed to return.
According to official figures, approximately 1.56 million Afghan citizens have returned to their country of origin thanks to the government’s ongoing repatriation campaign. The process was carried out in accordance with legal and administrative protocols, ensuring that each individual’s documents are verified before crossing the border.
The authorities assured that the repatriation initiative was being carried out in a dignified and orderly manner and has now been extended to Torkham following its recent reopening.
Officials said the Frontier Corps (FC) and civil administration have set up temporary shelters, food supplies and medical facilities for departing families. The state has ensured that all humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees are met during the transition, an official said.
Similarly, Khyber Deputy Commissioner Bilal Rao confirmed the reopening and said the crossing had resumed operations to facilitate the repatriation of Afghan nationals.
Afghan and Pakistani officials, including Khizer Shah, spokesman for the Pakistan embassy in Kabul, also verified the development.
The repatriation process of Afghan families, both with and without valid travel or identity documents, had been suspended since October 11, when cross-border clashes broke out between the security forces of the two countries.
The border skirmishes, which lasted several days, only ceased after a ceasefire was formalized in Doha on 19 October.
Following the violence, Pakistan closed all border crossings with Afghanistan for both trade and travel, leaving thousands of returning families stranded on both sides. The lockdown also disrupted bilateral trade, causing a rise in prices of essential goods, particularly perishable products such as tomatoes, in local markets.
Although Islamabad and Kabul agreed on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the border remains closed to trade for now, adding that commercial activity would resume only after a review of the security situation.
According to Khyber officials, all relevant border staff had been ordered to report for work early Saturday morning to facilitate the return of the refugees. However, it was not immediately clear whether Pakistani citizens stranded in Afghanistan would also be allowed to return to the country.
