Afghan refugees along with their belongings on trucks await deportation to Afghanistan near the Chaman border crossing. Photo: AFP
TORKHAM:
Pakistan on Saturday reopened the Torkham border crossing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Afghan refugees returning to their country, ending a nearly two-week closure following deadly clashes between border forces last month.
Meanwhile, nearly 10,700 people returned through the Chaman border in a single day as authorities extended the process to the crossing.
The repatriation of Afghan families with or without travel or identity documents was abruptly suspended on 11 October following border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which continued for days before a ceasefire was formalized in Doha on 19 October.
Pakistan had closed all its borders with Afghanistan for all types of movement. Since then, a large number of returnee families had been impatiently waiting for the reopening of the Torkham border.
Trade between the countries has remained suspended since then, leading to increased prices of essential commodities, especially tomatoes.
Although Islamabad and Kabul decided on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi stated that “the border remains closed to trade for the time being” and resumption of trade will depend on the security situation.
Officials said earlier that all relevant staff had been informed to ensure their presence on duty on Saturday morning. It was not clear whether Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan would be allowed to return.
According to official figures, approximately 1.56 million Afghan nationals have now returned to their homeland under the government’s ongoing repatriation efforts. The process was carried out in accordance with legal and administrative protocols that ensured that each person’s documents are verified before they cross the border.
Authorities assured that the repatriation initiative was carried out in a dignified and orderly manner and has now been extended to Torkham following the recent re-opening.
Officials said the Frontier Corps (FC) and the civil administration have set up temporary shelters, food supplies and medical facilities for departing families. The state has ensured that the humanitarian needs of all 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 Pakistani embassy in Kabul, also confirmed the development.
The repatriation process for Afghan families, both with and without valid travel or identity documents, had been suspended since October 11 when cross-border clashes broke out between security forces in the two countries.
The border clashes, which lasted for several days, only stopped after a ceasefire was formalized in Doha on 19 October.
Following the violence, Pakistan had closed all border crossings with Afghanistan to both trade and travel, leaving thousands of returning families stranded on both sides. The shutdown also disrupted bilateral trade and triggered a rise in prices of essential commodities, especially perishable items like tomatoes, in local markets.
Although Islamabad and Kabul agreed on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said the border would remain closed to trade for now, adding that commercial activity would only resume after a review of the security situation.
According to officials in Khyber, all relevant border personnel had been asked to report for duty early Saturday to facilitate the return of the refugees. However, it was not immediately clear whether Pakistani citizens stranded in Afghanistan would also be allowed to cross back into the country.
