- Title: Pakistan-Afghanistan border temporarily opens for Afghan refugees to return home
- Date: 26th March 2026
- Summary: TORKHAM, PAKISTAN (MARCH 26, 2026) (REUTERS) DRIVING SHOT ON ROAD LEADING TO TORKHAM BORDER DRIVING SHOT SHOWING VEHICLES PARKED ON SIDE OF ROAD DRIVING SHOT SHOWING AFGHAN REFUGEES REGISTRATION CAMP ROAD SIGN READING (Urdu): "TORKHAM AND LANDI KOTAL BAZAR" TRUCKS LOADED WITH BELONGINGS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES VARIOUS OF REFUGEES' FURNITURE AND OTHER BELONGINGS (SOUNDBITE) (Pas
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: AFGHANISTAN BORDER CONFLICT MIGRANT PAKISTAN REFUGEE TALIBAN
- Location: TORKHAM, PAKISTAN
- City: TORKHAM, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001772426032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Afghan refugees were waiting on Thursday (March 26) to cross at the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as authorities temporarily reopened the conduit to allow hundreds to return home, officials said.
The crossing in northwest Pakistan was opened to facilitate the return of Afghan refugees, following instructions issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home department a day earlier.
“We are facing hardships here and are waiting for the border to open so that we can leave,” said Afghan refugee Zabih Ullah,
Some refugees expressed frustration over delays before the reopening of the border. “We were told the border would open at nine o’clock, but we still don’t know anything,” said Aimal, another Afghan refugee, who uses a single name.
The Torkham border crossing had been closed to refugees for about a month following skirmishes between the two neighbouring country. Trade at the main border crossings had also been suspended since Pakistan launched air strikes in October.
Pakistan's military resumed operations against Afghanistan after a temporary pause, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday (March 26), dashing hopes for any chances of a permanent ceasefire.
Pakistan and Afghanistan's worst fighting in years erupted last month, claiming heavy human losses on both sides.
Pakistan has hosted over two million Afghan refugees sheltering from successive cycles of war in Afghanistan over the decades.
Islamabad wants all Afghan nationals to leave, except for those who have valid visas, saying they had been involved in militant attacks and other crimes.
Pakistan's repatriation drive is part of a campaign called the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023.
The United Nations said sending the refugees back is a violation of international obligations.
(Production: Aftab Awan, Salah Uddin, Shahab Shahabuddin, Carla O'Connor) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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