Pakistan reopened the Torkham border crossing on Tuesday to facilitate the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals, officials said, following a four-day closure. The crossing had briefly resumed operations for a single day after remaining shut for a month amid tensions between the two countries.
Security sources said the temporary reopening came at the request of Afghan authorities to allow the deportation of Afghan nationals held in Pakistani prisons. “More than 150 Afghan nationals were transferred to the Hamza Baba Transit Camp and, after completing legal formalities, handed over to Afghan border officials at Torkham,” the sources added.
The crossing will remain operational for the repatriation process, authorities said, provided the situation remains calm and no security incidents occur.
The Torkham crossing was previously reopened on March 26 after a month of clashes along the border but was closed again on March 27 following reports that Afghan forces fired on a Pakistani post near the crossing.
The initial closure followed heavy exchanges of fire on February 26, triggered by a Pakistani airstrike inside Afghanistan targeting suspected cross-border militants. Pakistan accuses militants of operating from Afghan territory, a claim rejected by Kabul. Tensions had been building since earlier incidents, including explosions in Kabul on October 9, which prompted retaliatory attacks along the border and the temporary shutdown of trade crossings.
Despite several rounds of talks in Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan authorities have yet to reach a lasting border management agreement.
The Torkham crossing is one of the most critical gateways between Pakistan and Afghanistan, linking economic hubs in both countries and providing a key route for trade, transit, and the movement of people. Beyond commerce, it carries significant geopolitical importance, with authorities maintaining close oversight for security and migration control.
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