LANDI KOTAL: As many as 13,155 Afghan citizens, legally and unlawfully residing in Pakistan repatriated to their homeland, Afghanistan, in two days, via Torkham border, home and tribal affairs department officials said.
The official said that on 01 October, 7935 and on 02 October, 5,220 Afghan citizens repatriated to Afghanistan.
The official in Landi Kotal said that to facilitate the return of Afghan families, all arrangements of the customs clearance and examination were completed in the holding center, Landi Kotal and then the families were taken to the zero point in coaches.
They said that after border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, the border was suspended on 12 October 2025 for pedestrians as well as for trade crossing.
Due to border restrictions, hundreds of Afghan repatriating families were stranded on roads for twenty days; however, following a mutual understanding developed between Pak-Afghan officials in dialogue, conducted in Ankara, Turkey, the shared border, Torkham, reopened for repatriating Afghans only.
It is important to state that so far, 828000 Afghan citizens have been sent back to Afghanistan.
On Friday, the official informed that after over twenty days of closure due to cross-border tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Torkham border is scheduled to reopen tomorrow, Saturday morning.
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According to official sources, the Torkham border will be opened tomorrow, Saturday, at 9 am exclusively for Afghan families returning to Afghanistan. Sources indicate that commercial activities and pedestrian movement on both sides of the border will remain suspended during this time.
Officials from the relevant department have stated that verbal orders regarding this decision have been issued, but an official notification is yet to be released. Nevertheless, staff members have been directed to report for duty tomorrow to ensure that the process of returning Afghan families to their home country proceeds in an orderly manner.
It is important to note that the prolonged closure of the Torkham border has severely impacted residents, transporters, and the business community. Hundreds of freight trucks and containers are stranded on both sides of the border, paralysing trade and affecting the local economy, while transporters are facing significant difficulties.
Additionally, a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been agreed upon until November 6. Fresh talks will be held in Istanbul on that date, with discussions expected to focus on key issues such as the border situation, the return of refugees, and trade matters. Locals are urging the government to take effective steps to normalise relations between the two countries, which could lead to a permanent opening of the border and a resumption of economic activities in the region.
It is worth mentioning that customs clearing agents and locals in Landikotal staged a demonstration yesterday to advocate for the reopening of the Torkham border and have planned another protest for Saturday.
