Woes of Pakistanis stuck in Afghanistan

From students to lorry drivers, ordinary people are trapped across border

SPIN BOLDAK:

Nearly three months after border clashes led to the closure of land crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, hundreds of university students, traders and families remain stranded, unable to return home.

"We miss our parents and relatives," said Shah Faisal, 25, who studies medicine at an Afghan university and had planned to visit his family in Pakistan during the winter break. But the border has been shut since October 12, leaving many like him without any viable way back.

Flights are far too expensive for most, while using smuggling routes carries serious risks. Student representatives estimate that around 500 to 600 youngsters studying in Nangarhar province alone are waiting for the crossings to reopen.

"Both countries should open the road and let students visit their families," said 22-year-old medical student Shah Fahad Amjad from Jalalabad. Others fear their visas or finances may soon become a problem if the deadlock continues.

"The situation has caused problems for us, who are students in Afghanistan, but also for Afghans who are students in Pakistan," said 23-year-old Barkat Ullah Wazir, also studying in Jalalabad.

The border stretches more than 2,600 kilometres across rugged mountains. Normally, it is a busy corridor for communities with deep cultural, economic and family ties. The border has remained largely closed since clashes in October.

Islamabad accuses Kabul of harbouring terrorists who attack Pakistan, an issue the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in 2021, were not addressing. Mediation efforts have failed, and both sides warn fighting could resume