Afghan-Pakistan crossing closure leaves students and families stranded

A report by AFP highlights the difficult situation faced by Pakistani and Afghan students and families in Afghanistan due to the continued closure of land crossings between the two countries.

More than three months have passed since the crossings was closed, leaving students, merchants, and families unable to return home. Shah Faisal, 25, a Pakistani medical student at an Afghan university, said, “We miss our families.” The crossings have been closed since October 12, and alternatives such as flights are prohibitively expensive, while smuggling routes are too risky.

A student representative stated that in Nangarhar province alone, around 500 to 600 Pakistani students are seeking ways to return home. Shah Fahad Amjad, a 22-year-old medical student in Jalalabad, called on both countries to reopen the crossings to allow students to visit their families.

The closure has also affected Afghan students studying in Pakistan, creating additional challenges.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that by January 1, nearly 1,200 people, including 549 students, had sought assistance at the Pakistani embassy in Kabul, but only just over 300 had managed to fly back by the end of December.

The Spin Boldak crossing, which leads into Pakistan, remains blocked. Drivers and merchants, including 39-year-old Khan Muhammad, have been unable to work or return to their homes for months. He said, “Our livelihoods depend entirely on this gate, and everyone is waiting for it to reopen.”