April 27, 2020
Around 2,255 Pakistanis stranded in Afghanistan over the last two months due to border closure amid the prevailing COVID-19 outbreak have been allowed to enter back into the country in the last one week. The stranded individuals, including Pakistani drivers who were engaged in Pak-Afghan transit trade at Spin Boldak, came from Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif. They had registered themselves with the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and the Consulates of Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. The Government of Pakistan had closed the Pak-Afghan border, both at Torkham and Chaman crossing points, last month to curb the regional spread of coronavirus.
Figures from Kabul dated April 26 show that, of the total of 1055 registered Pakistanis seeking to return to their homeland, 954 were successfully repatriated while 101 decided to stay back. On the Torkham border crossing, 195 Pakistani nationals, mostly truck drivers, returned on April 17, 518 returned on April 18, 500 on April 21, and 498 on April 25. 174 Pakistani nationals, again mostly truck drivers, were also repatriated through the Chaman border on April 24 while 370 nationals were brought back on April 25, making the total 2255 from both border crossing points. 137 Pakistani members of the Tablighi Jammat in Afghanistan are reported to be amongst those repatriated.
According to a Dawn news report, the swab samples of the newly returned people were taken after 48 hours of their arrival and they were provided with complete health facilities. Shamsul Islam, the focal person for the return of the stranded Pakistanis, stated that several hundred more are expected to return to Pakistan via the Torkham border in the coming days. A quarantine facility in Jamrud in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been prepared where they will be taken after the completion of their necessary immigration procedure. On the other hand, around 300 to 400 Pakistani nationals in Jalalabad did not register themselves with the Consulate or the Embassy and preferred to stay back with their families in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, in a flag meeting held at the Friendship Gate Chaman border on April 25 between Pakistan and Afghan border and security officials, it has been decided that the Friendship Gate would remain open for two days in a week for the repatriation of remaining Pakistani nationals.
