Stranded trucks to start re-entering via Torkham border from today

ISLAMABAD: After being stranded in Afghanistan for nearly nine months, more than 800 empty Pakistani trucks have been cleared to re-enter Pakistan through the Torkham border starting Wednesday morning, according to authorities and local sources.

The trucks had been stuck in Afghanistan since October 12, 2025, following clashes between Pakistani and Afghan border security forces that disrupted cross-border movement.

According to transport union leaders and tribal leaders, including Rehman Zeb Afridi, Iqbal, and Mufti Ijaz, more than 10 meetings were held with the authorities in both Pakistan and Afghanistan to settle the dispute. “As a result of hectic efforts, the authorities of the countries have allowed the drivers to re-enter Pakistan.”

As per the agreement, the trucks can cross the Torkham border crossing from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm every day until all trucks return to Pakistan. After the trucks pass, the families who returned will be allowed to go to Afghanistan, they stated.

Motorists have been instructed to prepare their vehicles, as the first batch is scheduled to cross into Pakistan on Wednesday morning.

In this regard, members of the transport community, tribal elders, and the families of the stranded drivers expressed gratitude to the Peshawar district administration, Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Mehsud, and the Afghan authorities for facilitating the move as a gesture of goodwill.

The President of the Transporters Union said that several meetings were held with Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Mehsud and Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah, to reach an amicable resolution to the issue.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026