The repatriation of Afghan families through the Torkham border has gathered pace in recent days. The increase follows the federal government’s directive to arrest and deport undocumented Afghan nationals. Meanwhile, officials expect the number of returnees to rise further in the coming days.
Daily Repatriation Numbers Continue to Rise
Officials at the Hamza Baba transit point in Landi Kotal reported a sharp increase in registrations. They said 1,200 to 1,300 people now visit the Nadra verification desk daily. Previously, the number ranged between 600 and 700 applicants each day.
Officials explained that each applicant often arrives with several family members, including children exempt from registration. Consequently, the daily number of Afghans returning through Torkham has increased from around 4,000 to nearly 6,000.
Authorities said police action against undocumented Afghan nationals prompted many families to leave voluntarily. In addition, some families reportedly decided to return after relatives were arrested and deported.
Police also said some registered Afghans previously returned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa instead of crossing the border. Therefore, authorities introduced a system using officially hired passenger coaches to transport verified individuals directly to the border crossing.
Traders Demand Immediate Border Reopening
Meanwhile, traders, transporters, and customs clearing agents threatened to block the Peshawar-Torkham Highway indefinitely. They demanded the immediate reopening of the Torkham border for bilateral trade with Afghanistan.
Representatives said the prolonged closure has caused losses worth millions of rupees. They added that daily exports valued at $2.5 million and imports worth Rs540 million remain affected. Furthermore, thousands of local workers have reportedly lost employment during the extended disruption.
The business leaders also said border clashes damaged at least 50 customs clearing offices without compensation. Therefore, they urged authorities to resolve border issues through dialogue and restore trade activities as soon as possible.
