KHYBER: Authorities at Torkham and the transit point for returning Afghans in Landi Kotal are awaiting a final nod from Islamabad to restart the registration process of Afghans, as all necessary preparations have been made by the departments concerned.

Official sources told Dawn that the National Database and Registration Authority staff, along with police and immigration staff, were directed to report at the Landi Kotal transit point and Torkham and reactivate the registration system for the possible return of the Afghans, who are now stranded in various localities due to disruption of the deportation process since February 26 when clashes erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Officials said that all necessary arrangements were now in place and the matter, supported by videos and photos of the concerned offices, had been reported to the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad.

“We are now waiting for a final nod from Islamabad as we have been performing our official responsibilities since Monday,” officials told Dawn.

It was also learnt from local sources that a jirga of local elders would meet their Afghan counterparts at the Zero Point before the resumption of the repatriation process.

They said that negotiations were also underway to explore possibilities for the safe return of all the Pakistani nationals currently stranded in different cities of Afghanistan. There was, however, no word about the resumption of bilateral trade between the neighbouring countries.

All trading activities have been halted since October 12, when all border points with Afghanistan were closed due to security issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026