By Staff Reporter
CHAMAN: Pakistan has partially reopened a volatile section of its border with Afghanistan to allow the repatriation of undocumented refugees, even as clashes between the two sides have shuttered crossings for trade and commerce, stranding hundreds of trucks and inflicting heavy economic losses on local businesses.
The limited opening in the Red Zone area came amid a fragile ceasefire following days of intense fighting, according to Pakistani officials. It has permitted several hundred Afghan families to cross back into their homeland under heavy guard, but the broader border remains sealed, exacerbating disruptions in a region long plagued by tensions over security and migration.
“Under tight security, several hundred Afghan refugee families, including women and children, along with their belongings crossed into the Afghanistan over the past three days,” a senior official said. The border was opened for three days, while it remained closed for the other three due to intense fighting at four locations in the Chaman sector, he added.
The clashes, which erupted six days ago, prompted the complete closure of crossings at Chaman and other entry points. Following the ceasefire, no firing or attack was reported from either side. “Forces equipped with heavy weapons remain on high alert to respond to any situation,” the official said.
The Friendship Gate, a symbolic landmark at the Pak-Afghan border, remains intact on the Pakistani side, while the Afghan Taliban damaged the gate on their side, officials noted. In a sign of the heightened vigilance, the Inspector General of Frontier Corps (North) Balochistan recently visited the Chaman border, where he was briefed by senior Frontier Corps commanders on the situation following the armed clashes. He also visited Pakistani border posts and the Friendship Gate.
While the partial reopening has focused solely on refugee repatriation, the border remains completely closed for all other purposes — including Afghan transit trade, imports, exports, and cross-border business — for the past six days. The shutdown has left commerce in limbo, with hundreds of loaded trucks and trailers carrying Afghan transit goods, fresh fruits, vegetables, and other commodities stranded on both sides of the border. “Around 140 trucks loaded with grapes and pomegranates are waiting in the Vesh Mandi area of Afghanistan to transport consignments to Quetta and other Pakistani cities,” officials said.
Similarly, over 500 loaded trucks carrying Afghan transit goods and import-export items have been stranded on the Pakistani side of the border in Chaman since the clashes began. The business community engaged in cross-border trade has reported heavy financial losses, as perishable goods — particularly fruits and vegetables — are spoiling due to the prolonged closure. Traders’ organisations, including the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have expressed serious concern over the situation and urged authorities to reopen the border to prevent further economic losses.
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