10,700 Afghans Repatriated as Torkham and Chaman Border Crossings Reopen

The long-anticipated return of Afghan nationals to their homeland has surged back to full speed, with approximately 10,700 individuals crossing into Afghanistan at the Chaman and Torkham border points in a single day, according to recent government statements. This mass movement follows the crucial reopening of the Torkham crossing on Saturday, ending a nearly two-week suspension of movement caused by deadly border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan security forces last month. The resumption of the repatriation drive underscores the relentless pressure on Afghan residents to leave Pakistan, even as the international community voices deep concerns over the safety and capacity of Afghanistan to absorb the massive influx of returnees.

The flow of people across the Durand Line is a direct consequence of Pakistan’s ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), which began in late 2023 and mandates the departure of all foreign nationals residing without valid documentation. This policy has since expanded to include holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) and now, controversially, is affecting refugees with the UN Refugee Agency’s Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, whose validity is increasingly precarious. The current figure of 10,700 repatriations recorded at the major border points of Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chaman in Balochistan demonstrates the immense human scale of this government initiative. Pakistan’s state-owned media, Radio Pakistan, has confirmed the ongoing repatriation in a “dignified manner,” citing official statistics that place the total number of Afghan nationals who have returned to their homeland under the current drive at approximately 1.56 million.

For those attempting the crossing, the journey is fraught with fear and logistical hurdles. The repatriation process, which was abruptly halted on October 11th following the border skirmishes, left thousands of families stranded and waiting impatiently. Officials have stated that the Frontier Corps (FC) and the civil administration have made arrangements for the departing families, including temporary shelters, food supplies, and medical facilities, to ensure an “orderly and dignified” transition, with every individual’s documents verified before crossing. The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, has confirmed that while refugee movement has been facilitated, the border remains closed for trade for the time being, with the resumption of commercial activity dependent on the prevailing security situation. This continued trade suspension is already causing shortages and price hikes for essential goods in Pakistan’s northwest, highlighting the deep economic interconnectedness of the two nations despite their turbulent relations.

The speed and scope of the expulsions have drawn repeated condemnation from humanitarian bodies. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has continuously urged Islamabad to exempt Afghans with ongoing international protection needs from involuntary return. UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, previously stated that the return of refugees should be “organised, phased, voluntary, and carried out in dignity and safety, with respect for rights and protection of those in need.” The agency, which has registered over 1.28 million Afghans in Pakistan, notes that many returnees, especially women and children who constitute a high percentage of the forced migration flow, face dire conditions in a country grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis. Many of these individuals have lived their entire lives in Pakistan, never knowing their ancestral home. The ongoing policy is not merely a border control measure but represents a fundamental shift in Pakistan’s decades-long tradition of hosting one of the world’s largest refugee populations, driven by what government officials cite as pressing national security and economic concerns. The immediate and continued displacement, now intensified by the reopening of these critical gates, means the international focus on Kabul’s capacity to cope, and the long-term stability of the region, will only sharpen in the weeks to come.