Return of Afghans through the Torkham border resumes.

Pak – Afghan – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan announced on Saturday that the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reopened for Afghan refugees returning to their homeland.

Khyber Deputy Commissioner Bilal Rao confirmed to Dawn that the border was reopened earlier today, allowing the resumption of Afghan repatriation. Afghan and Pakistani embassy officials also verified the development.

“Torkham gate is now open for refugees. We welcome our countrymen,” said Qureshi Badloon, head of Information and Culture in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

The repatriation of Afghan families, both with and without travel documents, had been halted on October 11 after border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The tensions lasted for several days before a ceasefire was agreed upon in Doha on October 19.

Following the clashes, Pakistan shut all border crossings with Afghanistan, stopping all types of movement. Thousands of Afghan families had since been waiting impatiently for the reopening of the Torkham border.

Trade between the two countries has also been suspended, causing price hikes in essential goods such as tomatoes and vegetables. Although both sides agreed on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said trade would remain closed until the security situation improves.

Officials had instructed all relevant staff to report for duty on Saturday to facilitate the refugee movement. However, it remains unclear whether Pakistani citizens stranded in Afghanistan will be allowed to return.

Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir told Dawn on Friday that thousands of Afghan refugees were stuck and living on roads due to the border closure. “There are hundreds of vehicles carrying thousands of refugees stranded from Nowshera to Torkham,” he said, adding that many people lacked food, water, and shelter.

Pakistan and Afghan Taliban agree to extend their ceasefire.

He also mentioned that refugees continued to be expelled, especially from Punjab, increasing the number of stranded families. He urged authorities to provide water, tents, and food for those waiting near the border.

Shakir further claimed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had not provided help to the stranded refugees, even though many of them were registered and held Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.

Amid the border tensions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that the government would not extend the stay of Afghan refugees and planned to close all refugee camps. He was informed that as of October 16, more than 1.47 million Afghan nationals had already returned to their country.

The government also warned that sheltering illegal Afghan residents would be treated as a serious crime, and violators would face strict legal action.