KHYBER (Web-Desk) — The Torkham border crossing has been reopened after 20 days, solely to facilitate the deportation of illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan.
Hundreds of Afghan refugees have reached the Torkham border to return to their homeland. However, trade and pedestrian movement across the border remain suspended.
According to Deputy Commissioner of District Khyber, Bilal Shahid, the Torkham crossing has been opened specifically for the expulsion of undocumented Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan.
He stated that hundreds of Afghan refugees have arrived at the Torkham Immigration Center, where immigration officials are completing necessary formalities before allowing them to cross into Afghanistan.
DC Shahid clarified that the border will remain closed for trade and pedestrian traffic until further notice.
The Torkham crossing had been sealed on October 11 due to heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
According to UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi, by October 8, a total of 615,000 undocumented Afghan citizens had already been deported through the Torkham border.
