Iran Deports 14,000 Afghan Migrants From Semnan Province, Says Official

The Torkham crossing, which connects Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, was shut down on Saturday following a dispute over the construction of a new checkpoint.

Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban commissioner at Torkham, confirmed that Pakistan had closed the crossing in response to construction activities on the Afghan side.

A Pakistani security official at the border stated on Sunday that a meeting of the border communications committee to discuss reopening the crossing had not yet been scheduled.

Sources told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that tensions escalated when border security officials clashed over the renovation and expansion of a security post on the Afghan side and the installation of a signboard on the Pakistani side, leading to the sudden closure. They added that both sides had previously agreed to notify and consult each other on any construction or modifications to border structures.

This is not the first time Pakistan has closed the Torkham crossing. The Pakistani government has frequently used this vital trade and transit route as leverage in its dealings with the Taliban.

According to the official, former President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to submit a report on immigration operations by 21 March.

The report will assess the U.S. government’s capacity to process immigration cases based on applicants’ country of origin. The official suggested that the order could impact immigration cases from Afghanistan and Iraq, including SIV applications.

The official also warned that, given changing U.S. immigration policies and deteriorating security conditions in Pakistan and other regions, there may be only a month left to facilitate travel for individuals eligible under the SIV programme.

Earlier, Reuters reported that officials at the State Department’s office overseeing Afghan resettlement had been instructed to prepare for its closure by April 2025. If implemented, the move could prevent approximately 200,000 eligible Afghan refugees from relocating to the United States.

A source advocating for Afghan refugee resettlement told Reuters that those affected by the potential closure include families of Afghan-American military personnel, children and relatives of Afghans already residing in the U.S., and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.

Currently, thousands of former U.S. allies in Afghanistan remain stranded in Pakistan, awaiting approval for SIV applications. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have intensified restrictions and deportations of Afghan migrants in recent months, further complicating their situation.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump tasked a U.S. official with developing a strategy to retrieve the military assets now in Taliban possession.

During his speech, Trump referred to an individual named “Doug” as the person responsible for overseeing the effort. The exact identity of the official remains unclear, but speculation suggests it could be Doug Manchester, a businessman and Republican donor. Afghanistan International reached out to the U.S. State Department for confirmation but has not received a response.

Expressing frustration over Taliban fighters using U.S. military gear in parades, Trump stated: “If we’re going to give them that kind of money, let them give back the military equipment, which they have. They have tanks and trucks and guns and goggles—better than we have. Brand new, right out of the box. It’s unbelievable.”

Since the U.S. withdrawal, billions of dollars worth of military equipment has remained in Taliban hands. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, over $7 billion in military assets, including vehicles, weapons, biometric devices, and advanced technologies, were abandoned.

Between 2002 and June 2020, the U.S. invested $88.61 billion in the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund to equip and sustain Afghan defence forces. However, following the Taliban takeover in August 2021, much of this equipment was seized. Reports indicate that the Taliban now possesses 78 aircraft, more than 40,000 military vehicles, and over 300,000 firearms, making it one of the most heavily armed militant groups in the region.

Additionally, biometric and identification tools abandoned during the withdrawal are now in Taliban hands, enabling them to track individuals who previously worked with the U.S. and Afghan government.

Reports suggest that Taliban-controlled military equipment is being sold on the black market in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with some of it reaching armed groups in the Middle East and Kashmir. Recent images have shown Iranian special forces using U.S.-made M4 rifles, raising concerns about the proliferation of American weapons in conflict zones.

ISIS fighters have also been documented using U.S. weapons, including in attacks against Hazaras in Daikundi province. The widespread trade of U.S. weapons in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal regions has further complicated security concerns, as militant groups continue to access advanced military gear initially intended for the former Afghan National Defence and Security Forces.

Trump’s directive to retrieve the equipment underscores ongoing concerns over U.S. military assets falling into the hands of extremist groups. However, the feasibility of reclaiming these weapons remains uncertain, as the Taliban continues to consolidate control over Afghanistan’s military infrastructure.

Speaking to Türkiye’s Anadolu News Agency on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed that efforts are underway to arrange a meeting between border authorities. However, no official communication has been established regarding a possible reopening.

The closure of the Torkham border, a vital trade and transit route between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has severely disrupted commercial activities and passenger movement. The crossing, which links Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, was shut down on Saturday following a dispute over the construction of a new border post.

Sources told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that the closure resulted from disagreements over the renovation and expansion of a security post on the Afghan side and the installation of a signboard on the Pakistani side. The border security officials reportedly clashed over the issue, leading to the sudden suspension of operations.

According to these sources, both sides had previously agreed to inform and coordinate with each other regarding any new construction near the border or modifications to existing structures. Following the closure, customs and immigration offices were shut down, and staff were instructed to vacate the premises.

Despite the escalating tensions, Pakistani officials, in a gesture of goodwill, allowed the transfer of six Afghan citizens’ coffins into Afghanistan.

The issue of “unauthorised” construction along the border has been a long-standing point of contention between the two countries. Since 2016, Pakistani and Afghan border forces have repeatedly clashed over infrastructural developments near the frontier. Both sides have since taken a rigid stance on border management, often responding forcefully to any construction or renovation activities carried out without prior coordination.

Earlier, Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban commissioner at Torkham, stated that Pakistan had closed the border crossing on Friday night in response to construction activities on the Afghan side. However, Islamabad has yet to issue an official statement regarding the closure or the possibility of reopening the border.

Abdul Jabbar Hikmat, the Taliban commissioner at Torkham, stated on Friday night that Pakistani authorities had shut the gate due to ongoing infrastructure work carried out by the Taliban.

In a video statement, Hikmat criticised Pakistan’s actions, saying, “Pakistanis always treat us this way. Torkham is a vital trade route, with 700 to 800 trucks passing through daily and around 4,000 to 5,000 passengers travelling via this crossing. We have asked the Pakistani authorities to explain the reason for the closure and reopen the gate, but they have not responded so far.”

The border closure has caused significant difficulties for travellers, including patients, women, and children, while also disrupting trade, leaving cargo trucks stranded on both sides.

Local sources in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces reported recent clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards. The skirmishes reportedly occurred separately in Shali Dara village, Khas Kunar district of Kunar province, and in Goshta district of Nangarhar province.

This is not the first time Pakistan has shut the Torkham crossing, which the Pakistani government has frequently used as leverage against the Taliban.

Over the past three and a half years, relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have remained tense. Despite Islamabad’s initial support for the Taliban, ongoing border disputes, cross-border attacks by armed groups, and trade disagreements have repeatedly strained ties.

As of now, Pakistani authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the border closure.