1,000 Trucks Queue at Torkham as Afghan Deportation Crisis Deepens; 146,000+ Expelled in 2026; Post-University-Strike Diplomatic Fallout Continues

April 29, 2026: Approximately 1,000 trucks loaded with Afghan household belongings queued at the Torkham border crossing (Afghanistan-Pakistan) as Pakistan's mass expulsion of Afghan nationals continued at an accelerating pace. Between 4,000 and 6,000 Afghans crossed back into Afghanistan per day through Torkham, which had been closed since October 2025 due to armed conflict and reopened in late March 2026 exclusively for returnees — commercial trade remains fully suspended. The convoy backed up for kilometers on the Pakistani side of the crossing, with families waiting in vehicles for days. Pakistan has expelled over 146,000 Afghans in 2026 alone, with combined Pakistan and Iran deportations in April 2026 reaching approximately 280,000+. HRW documented raids, arbitrary detentions, and forced returns escalating since April 1, including at least 9 Afghan journalists forcibly returned — a potential death sentence under Taliban rule for those who covered the previous government or human rights issues. Deportees include undocumented residents, individuals with valid Pakistani visas, and former Afghan government employees, military personnel, and journalists who face risk of Taliban detention or persecution upon return. The deportee flow is creating a cascading secondary humanitarian crisis inside Afghanistan. Returnees — many stripped of their livelihoods, savings, and housing in Pakistan — arrive at Afghan border points without documentation, cash, or safe destinations in a country where 97% of the population already lives below the poverty line. UNHCR and Refugees International continued to call on Pakistan to halt forced returns pending proper refugee status determination procedures. Diplomatically, the April 28 university strike in Asadabad continued to dominate Afghan-Pakistani discourse on April 29. Taliban officials formally demanded explanations through Chinese diplomatic channels. Pakistan maintained its denial. No new cross-border strikes were confirmed on April 29 itself, representing a marginal de-escalation from April 28's most intense civilian impact day. The non-escalation framework, now strained by the April 27–28 incidents, remained technically in effect with no formal collapse declared by either side. Urumqi Round 2 discussions were reported to be on hold pending diplomatic clarification of the April 28 incidents.