Pakistan’s government recently unlocked Torkham border crossing after 21-day closure to facilitate Afghan nationals who do not possess documentation returning home undocumented, specifically targeting undocumented Afghan nationals who live there illegally. For more details visit Geo TV +2 or The News
Background
On October 11th, Pakistan and Afghanistan shut the Torkham crossing due to border clashes that threatened wider violence. For more details click here and +1 is also included for good measure!
This closure not only affected pedestrian travel but also trade routes and created anxiety among both sides of the border. SAMAA TV went even further by reporting this story.
Purpose of Reopening On November 1, authorities in Khyber District announced that the crossing would only reopen for Afghan nationals who did not hold valid residency or visa status in Pakistan and are due for repatriation back home. Geo.tv confirmed this information.
Officials at Torkham Immigration Centre completed formalities prior to them being transported back into Afghanistan. A report claimed hundreds of Afghan nationals arrived there this morning before making their journey across.
However, the reopening does not indicate an immediate return to normalcy; trade activities and pedestrian crossing remain suspended until further notice, according to Deputy Commissioner Bilal Shahid. See Newsfeed for Ceasefire/Mediation details.

Reopening of borders follows diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan led by Istanbul-mediated talks involving Turkiye and Qatar as mediators, under Turkish leadership and with Qatar mediation support. Both parties agreed in these mediation rounds to uphold ceasefires and create monitoring mechanisms in place in order to prevent further border escalations. By geo.tv’s count +1 this was announced yesterday evening on geo.tv+1 (+1 geo).
What’s at Stake
Torkham’s closure had devastating humanitarian and economic repercussions; Afghan refugees found themselves without shelter or supplies along its borders.
Pakistan has long had concerns over undocumented Afghan migrants entering its territory without official documentation, which are the cornerstones of security concerns that necessitate tighter border controls and verification of migrant status.

Pakistan is sending a clear signal that it exercises sovereign control over entry and stay within its territory by permitting only illegal residents back in. At the same time, its restrictions of trade and passenger movement indicate that full normalisation remains dependent upon broadened security guarantees and diplomatic progress.

Challenges and Next Steps Even with the reopening, major obstacles remain:

Afghanistan and Pakistan must still implement their agreed monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the cease-fire holds firm.
Geo.tv Economic flows have come to a standstill until further notice – their return is contingent upon creating an atmosphere conducive to freight and commercial traffic flow across borders.
At Dawn, thousands of Afghans remain stranded and waiting for safe repatriation, including some with valid registration cards. Concerns have been raised regarding humanitarian provisions as well as process dignity during this return process.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s decision to reopen Torkham crossing after 21 days represents a practical move by that country to both ease humanitarian pressures and strengthen migration policy. Though only partial, focused on repatriation, this partial reopening shows an encouraging sign for Pak-Afghan relations at this tense moment; whether this step leads to greater movement, trade and cooperation or whether trust remains fragile and unexpectedly closes off this border is still the key question at this time.