Taliban Authorities Report Afghan Returnees Stranded at Torkham Border Amid Closure by Pakistan

The Taliban administration has announced that the closure of the Torkham border crossing by Pakistan has caused Afghan returnees to become stranded, with many waiting for days on the other side of the border. According to the administration, women, children, and the elderly are among those stuck and facing serious difficulties.

Hamdullah Fetrat, deputy spokesperson of the Taliban administration, quoted the “Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Issues” on Wednesday, May 6, saying that the border closure by Pakistan has created a challenging situation for migrants. He added that the returnees are waiting by the roadside under poor conditions.

The Taliban administration has called on international organizations, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to engage in talks with Pakistani authorities to resolve this issue. The administration emphasized that the matter should be managed as soon as possible to prevent the worsening of humanitarian problems.

Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed that they are fully prepared to receive returnees at the Torkham crossing. The Torkham border crossing, which is one of the most important routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Nangarhar Province, was closed following clashes between forces of both sides last year and has recently been conditionally reopened for migrants.