A day after Pakistan and Afghanistan reaffirmed their ceasefire during talks in Istanbul, Pakistan reopened the Torkham border crossing on Saturday to allow the repatriation of illegal Afghan refugees stranded for weeks.
According to Deputy Commissioner Khyber Bilal Shahid, the border, closed for 21 days due to cross-border clashes, was reopened to facilitate the return of Afghan nationals. Hundreds of refugees gathered at the Torkham immigration centre, where officials processed their travel formalities before allowing entry into Afghanistan.
The repatriation process had been suspended on October 11 following violent border clashes that lasted several days before a ceasefire was brokered in Doha on October 19. During that time, Pakistan sealed all crossings with Afghanistan, halting both trade and pedestrian movement.
While the crossing has now reopened for refugee movement, trade between the two countries remains suspended. The Foreign Office clarified that trade resumption will depend on the evolving security situation.
The reopening follows a six-day negotiation round in Istanbul, mediated by Turkiye and Qatar, where both sides agreed to sustain the ceasefire. A joint statement confirmed plans to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure compliance, with penalties for violations. The next high-level meeting is set for November 6 in Istanbul.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace but stressed that Islamabad would safeguard its territorial sovereignty. He expressed hope that the Taliban regime would prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil to target Pakistan.
Tensions between the two neighbours have intensified since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring militant groups responsible for attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The recent clashes saw Pakistan retaliate strongly, killing over 200 militants, though 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently reaffirmed that no further extensions would be granted to Afghan refugees residing illegally in Pakistan. According to official data, over 1.47 million Afghan nationals have already been repatriated.
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