Truckers return home after 9-month ordeal

Hundreds of Pakistani drivers and conductors stranded in Afghanistan head home as Afghan repatriations gather pace

KHYBER:

Hundreds of Pakistani truck drivers and conductors stranded in Afghanistan for nearly nine months have finally begun returning home, while authorities on both sides of the border continue to accelerate the repatriation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan.

The twin developments have transformed the Torkham crossing into a scene of emotional reunions, administrative urgency and renewed debate over migration, trade and humanitarian responsibilities.

For Pakistani driver Humayun Shinwari, the moment he crossed back into Pakistan on Sunday marked the end of a painful chapter. Overcome with emotion, he prostrated in gratitude upon stepping onto home soil after months of uncertainty.

"We waited for nine months," Shinwari told reporters. "Our vehicles remained parked for so long that they started deteriorating. We had no proper facilities or relief. Many drivers were forced to sell or return their cargo just to survive."

Shinwari is among nearly 600 Pakistani drivers and conductors who were stranded in Afghanistan after the Torkham border crossing was abruptly closed in September 2025 amid heightened tensions and security concerns.

The prolonged closure disrupted cross-border trade, halted the movement of goods and passengers, and left hundreds of transport workers stranded far from their families.

For many of them, the financial impact has been devastating.

Truck owners suffered heavy losses as vehicles remained idle for months, while drivers struggled to support their families back home. Local businesses in border areas, heavily dependent on trade activity, also faced severe economic setbacks.

The return of stranded Pakistanis follows weeks of diplomatic engagement and coordination between Pakistani and Afghan authorities.

Maulana Ijaz Shinwari, senior district leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), confirmed that the repatriation process had formally begun.

"The return of stranded Pakistani trucks, drivers and conductors is under way, and we expect all of them to reach home soon," he said. He noted that the closure of the border had caused significant losses to bilateral trade and negatively affected the regional economy.

"The suspension of border operations did not only impact trade; it also created a humanitarian crisis," he said. "Poverty and unemployment increased sharply in border communities, affecting thousands of families."

According to local officials, the immediate priority is ensuring the safe return of all stranded Pakistanis, after which authorities are expected to announce a roadmap for the gradual restoration of trade and border operations.

Torkham serves as one of the most important trade corridors between Pakistan and Afghanistan, facilitating the movement of goods worth billions of dollars annually. Any disruption to operations at the crossing reverberates across supply chains and local economies on both sides of the border.

While Pakistani transport workers celebrate their return, the border is simultaneously witnessing a significant increase in the movement of Afghan nationals heading back to Afghanistan.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has directed all relevant departments to expedite the repatriation process and complete pending operations within the next 30 to 45 days.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Interior Tariq Saeed Marwat said temporary transit camps remain operational in Peshawar, Charsadda, Kohat and Hangu to facilitate returning Afghan families.

"We have reviewed all pending visa and stay-related matters concerning Afghan citizens," Marwat said. "The dignity, self-respect and fundamental rights of those returning will be protected throughout the process."

According to the latest data released jointly by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 2.5 million Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan between September 15, 2023, and June 13, 2026.

The report states that 2,500,712 Afghans returned during the period, including 1,912,939 individuals who departed voluntarily or for other reasons, 334,929 who returned under the UN's voluntary repatriation programme, and 252,844 who were deported.

The pace of repatriation has increased significantly in recent weeks.

Between June 7 and June 13 alone, 28,285 Afghan citizens crossed into Afghanistan through Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Chaman, Badini and Bahramcha border crossings.

The figures represent an 11 per cent increase in overall returns and a 22 per cent rise in deportations compared to the previous week.