Pakistan reopens Torkham border crossing to repatriate Afghan refugees

Pakistan on Saturday reopened the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to allow Afghan refugees to return home.

Officials said that the border was reopened earlier in the day to resume the repatriation process. Afghan officials and Khizer Shah, spokesperson for the Pakistani embassy in Kabul, also confirmed the reopening.

The border had been closed since October 11 after clashes between security forces of both countries, which lasted several days before a ceasefire agreement was reached in Doha on October 19.

The closure halted the movement of people and goods, leaving hundreds of Afghan families waiting for the chance to cross back and disrupting trade between the two nations.

Also Read: Ceasefire extended between Pakistan, Afghanistan amid continued tensions

Since the shutdown, essential commodity prices—particularly tomatoes—have surged in both border regions due to the suspension of trade.

Although Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Friday to extend the ceasefire, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the border remains closed for commercial activities for now, with trade resumption dependent on the security situation.