Islamabad (TDI): Officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan confirmed on Saturday that the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reopened, allowing Afghan refugees to resume their return to Afghanistan.
Khyber Deputy Commissioner Bilal Rao said that the crossing had been reopened earlier in the day, marking the continuation of the repatriation process that had been suspended for nearly three weeks, Dawn.com reported.
The reopening was also confirmed by Khizer Shah, spokesperson for the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul, and Afghan authorities, it added.
“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 return process had been halted on October 11 following border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces, which lasted for several days before a ceasefire was reached in Doha on October 19. In the aftermath, Pakistan sealed all crossings with Afghanistan, halting the movement of people and goods.
Read More: Tense Diplomacy Pays Off: Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree to Continue Ceasefire
Since then, thousands of Afghan families have been waiting near the border for it to reopen. The suspension of trade during this period also pushed up prices of key commodities, particularly tomatoes and other essential goods, in local markets on both sides of the border.
Although Islamabad and Kabul agreed on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi clarified that “the border remains closed for trade for now,” noting that commercial movement would resume once the security situation stabilizes.
Read More: Why Did Pakistan, Afghanistan Talks Fail and What Could Happen Next
Officials said border staff had been directed to report for duty early on Saturday, though it remains unclear whether Pakistani nationals stranded in Afghanistan will also be permitted to return.
