Overview
- Pakistan reopened the Torkham crossing after roughly three weeks solely to process Afghan returnees, keeping cargo and routine travel suspended.
- Officials reported large turnouts at processing centers, with thousands crossing at Torkham and about 10,700 people moving through Chaman in a single day.
- Talks in Istanbul following a Doha-brokered truce produced agreement to maintain the ceasefire and create monitoring and verification mechanisms, with principals set to meet on Nov. 6.
- Trade remains halted, leaving trucks stranded and driving up prices in Pakistan, particularly for fresh produce.
- Pakistan cites a cumulative return of about 1.56 million Afghans under its repatriation drive, while UNHCR verified 615,000 through Torkham as of Oct. 8, and authorities say temporary shelters and assistance are in place for returnees.