Today: 6 October 2025
24 October 2021
3 mins read

Torkham border reopens for pedestrian movement

During May this year, the Pakistan government decided to close all of its borders with Afghanistan for pedestrian movement to in an effort to stop Covid-19 transmission….reports Hamza Ameer

The Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing at Torkham, which was only allowed to open for trade activities, has now opened its gates, permitting the entry of desperate Afghan men and women into Pakistan.

As per a notification issued by the Pakistan government, pedestrian entry has been allowed for Afghans after at least five months of suspension.

“As many as 240 Afghan nationals entered into Pakistan utilising the online visa facility at the border crossing while at least 108 Pakistanis also availed the opportunity to come back to their country,” said an official at Torkham.

“The pedestrian entry was opened after instructions from the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, following an approval by the federal cabinet,” he added.

During May this year, the Pakistan government decided to close all of its borders with Afghanistan for pedestrian movement to in an effort to stop Covid-19 transmission.

The restrictions also included Islamabad’s decision to now allow inflow of refugees, who may want to enter into Pakistan amid Taliban takeover and the security situation in Afghanistan.

Officials posted at Torkham revealed that they are expecting about 10,000 to 12,000 Afghan nationals to cross the border and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan on a daily basis, many of who do daily border-crossing movement for work.

The previous ban on cross-border movement had severe affects on the locals living on both sides of the border as nearly 8,000 daily wagers and porters lost their jobs.

These wagers had been protesting against the border closure and had established a protest camp also, demanding the authorities to lift what they called unjustified ban.

Officials also revealed that they received a batch of at least 570 Afghan students, who were studying in different educational institutions in Pakistan.

“These students sent ahead to their respective institutions after a mandatory 10-day quarantine,” the officials stated.

The Torkham border was also used to evacuate hundreds of Afghan and foreign nationals, after they were granted special permission after the Taliban takeover.

It is expected that there will be an inflow of Afghan refugees into Pakistan in the coming days as cross-border movement through the Torkham border will increase in number with every passing day.

Thousands rush to Pak border

Thousands of Afghans made a beeline for Torkham border crossing early on Friday morning when the news about resumption of cross-border pedestrian movement spread in most parts of the neighbouring country, Dawn reported.

The number of aspiring Afghans was so high that Pakistani authorities had to deploy additional security personnel to prevent crowding and panic at the border crossing.

It was also learnt that the Afghan Taliban made repeated announcements on loudspeakers to its “unruly” nationals to avoid congestion at the border crossing and let only those, who needed the most, cross over to Pakistan, the report said.

However, the announcements fell on deaf ears as the Afghans made desperate bids to get online visaS for Pakistan.

Bilal, a 28-year-old resident of Laghman province in Afghanistan, told Dawn that he got an online visa on Friday morning after spending a sleepless night near the border crossing.

He said the number of people, including women, children and the elderly, was so high on the Afghan side of the border that it was literally impossible for both the Afghan and Pakistani authorities to entertain everyone’s request for visa.

Abdullah, a resident of Nangarhar province, also said he reached Pakistan after getting visa online.

He said though majority of Afghans welcomed the resumption of pedestrian movement via Torkham border, it would take the authorities weeks and months on both sides of the border to clear the “waiting lot” as Afghans had started reaching Torkham in large numbers after learning about the border reopening for ordinary people.

Pakistani officials also confirmed crowding on the border and said security clearance was meticulous and painstakingly slow.

ALSO READ: Khalilzad faces flak over his ‘destructive role’ in Afghanistan

Previous Story

Pak witness rise in dengue cases

Next Story

Pakistan fails in convincing IMF to resume $6bn extended fund

Latest from -Top News

Piyush Goyal Heads to Doha for Trade Talks

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement (FTA)….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Doha, Qatar, on

Hamas Heads to Egypt for Gaza Talks

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan…reports Asian Lite News A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

Tommy Robinson to Visit Israel

The invitation comes from Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, who described Robinson as a “courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam…reports Asian Lite News An
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Govt started negotiations with Taliban: Pak PM

Khan’s remarks came following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting

Pakistan Draws Flak For Funding Taliban

Pakistan-based terror outfits have extended their support to the Taliban