Pakistan reopened the Torkham crossing on Saturday for Afghan refugees returning to their homeland, but thousands remain stranded in desperate conditions as the crucial border stays shut for all trade and regular travel, creating a mounting humanitarian crisis.
The passage was unsealed exclusively for refugee repatriation after weeks of shutdown, a move confirmed by both Pakistani and Afghan authorities. All major border points with Afghanistan were closed last month following armed hostilities that began with an assault by Taliban forces on Pakistani border personnel on October 11.
The Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, stated that the crossing will remain inaccessible to cargo trucks and ordinary travelers until a comprehensive security assessment permits a full reopening. “The reopening for Afghan transit trade will depend on the security review,” he commented, underscoring that the situation remains under evaluation.
The extended closure has left thousands of commercial trucks marooned on both sides of the frontier, severely disrupting commerce and the movement of essential goods. The Deputy Commissioner of Khyber District, Bilal Rao, verified that the border was opened Saturday morning specifically for refugees going back to Afghanistan. Media reports indicated that two Afghan officials also corroborated this development.
Prior to the partial reopening, the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, voiced grave concern over the welfare of those affected. He described a grim scenario with thousands of Afghan refugees, including women and children, stuck along the roadsides near Torkham without adequate food, drinking water, or shelter.
Shakir had warned that the situation could become critical if deportations proceeded while the crossing remained sealed. ‘Hundreds of vehicles are stuck from Nowshera to Torkham, carrying thousands of refugees,’ he said, explaining that many had left their residences weeks ago, anticipating a swift return, only to be left living under the open sky.
He appealed to the Pakistani government to halt forced repatriations until the border is fully operational for everyone. Highlighting the disparity in policy, he noted that the Chaman crossing in Balochistan remains open and urged Islamabad to provide similar relief at Torkham.
The Afghan consul general mentioned that his office had engaged with the Commissioner for Afghan Refugees and sent official communications to Pakistani officials without seeing a policy change. He also claimed that refugees are being expelled from Punjab, swelling the numbers of displaced people at the border, while the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reportedly not provided assistance, even to those with official Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
Reiterating Pakistan’s position on Friday, Andrabi had emphasized that the security assessment still deemed the closure necessary for commercial activities. ‘The border will remain shut until a new decision is announced,’ he said, leaving the resumption of vital trade and transit in indefinite suspension.