Thousands of Afghan Nationals Return Home as Pakistan Reopens Border Crossings
Thousands of Afghan nationals have crossed into their homeland via the Chaman border in Pakistan, following the reopening of the Torkham crossing after a two-week closure due to border clashes. The repatriation process has resumed, with around 1.56 million Afghan nationals returning home under Pakistan's ongoing initiative.
The border closure had led to severe disruptions, with thousands of families stranded on both sides and bilateral trade suspended. This resulted in shortages and higher prices of essential goods, particularly fresh produce, in markets across northwestern Pakistan. The Torkham crossing reopened on Saturday, allowing the return of Afghan refugees, while trade remains suspended for now.
The reopening follows a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, formalised in Doha on October 19, which continues to hold. The repatriation process has resumed at both the Torkham and Chaman borders. Around 10,700 individuals crossed into Afghanistan via the Chaman border on Friday, indicating a significant restart of the repatriation process.
While the Torkham border crossing has reopened for refugee movements, trade remains suspended pending the security situation. The resumption of commercial activity at the border will depend on the prevailing security conditions. Despite the challenges, the reopening of the crossings has provided relief to thousands of families and is expected to ease the pressure on essential goods in Pakistan.
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