Pakistan has partially reopened the Torkham border crossing after a 21-day closure, officials confirmed on Friday. The reopening facilitates the ongoing deportation of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, though trade and general travel remain suspended.
Deputy Commissioner Khyber Bilal Shahid stated that the border has been opened specifically for repatriation purposes. “No final decision has yet been made regarding the resumption of trade activity or general cross-border movement,” he clarified. He added that these would remain suspended until further notice.
Hundreds of Afghan citizens have arrived at the Torkham Immigration Centre since the reopening. District administration officials are processing their documentation before permitting them to cross into Afghanistan.
Read: Pakistan, Afghan Taliban Agree to Uphold Ceasefire After Istanbul Talks
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan had already repatriated 615,000 undocumented Afghan nationals through Torkham as of October 8, 2025.
The border closure on October 11 followed a significant escalation in tensions. The shutdown occurred after Afghan forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani border troops, leading to a military exchange.
The incident prompted Pakistan to close all four major trade gateways with Afghanistan—Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, and Chaman. This closure is for an indefinite period.
The reopening coincides with reports of a provisional understanding reached between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations during talks in Istanbul. The six-day dialogue, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, aimed to secure guarantees. They wanted to ensure that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
Both sides have reportedly reaffirmed a ceasefire agreement originally made in Doha. They also agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to verify compliance. The next round of talks is scheduled for November 6 to finalise implementation details.
