Islamabad, March 31, 2026: Authorities on Tuesday reopened the Torkham border with Afghanistan for the repatriation of stranded Afghan nationals, following over a month of clashes between the two neighbours that ended in a ceasefire before Eidul Fitr, a government official told Anadolu.
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The border, linking Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, had been closed since late February due to intense cross-border skirmishes, which disrupted trade and civilian movement.
The reopening comes a day after a “flag meeting” between Pakistani and Afghan officials. Currently, the crossing is limited to repatriating Afghan nationals detained for illegal stay, with plans to gradually restore trade and general public movement if stability continues.
The clashes were triggered by a series of TTP terrorist attacks in Pakistan, prompting Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan. Islamabad reported over 500 TTP militants killed, while Kabul claimed dozens of civilian casualties.
The two countries agreed to a week-long ceasefire on March 18 after mediation efforts by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Meanwhile, a grand assembly of elders convened in Peshawar to promote renewed dialogue and cross-border cooperation. Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 border crossings, with Torkham and Chaman being the busiest.
