Kabul – Dozens of young people find themselves in a difficult situation as the plight of stranded students continues to worsen following the closure of key border crossings.
Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan have not been able to travel back home since October 12, and now, they are stuck in a state of uncertainty, with their resources, and patience started to run thin.
Not only have the transit points such as Torkham been closed, making trade difficult but also the closing of this route has cut these young learners off their families and support systems back in Pakistan.
The human aspect of the situation was reported by the journalist Tahir Khan in recent X post, posting the pleas of these stranded students.
#Pakistani students stranded in #Afghanistan due to closure of border crossings on Oct.12 have appealed to the @CMShehbaz @MIshaqDar50 @GovtofPakistan @MohsinnaqviC42 @AmbassadorSadiq @PakinAfg @ubaidniz to open Torkham or arrange flights fr them @BBhuttoZardari @fkkundi pic.twitter.com/yMfV5WLoii
— Tahir Khan (@taahir_khan) December 23, 2025
Since the land avenues are now closed, the students are demanding a temporary reopening of the gates so that they can be transported across the border or alternatively, they have demanded special flights that will ferry them safely.
To these people, the delays are not mere inconveniences but disturbance to their education and psychological state.
Seeking a Path Forward
Diplomatic cooperation between the two countries will determine the solution of this problem.
Although security is a priority in border management, the well-being of stranded students is a special humanitarian issue that needs a prompt response.
Be it the reopening of the Torkham crossing or the emergency airlifts, the aim would be to assure these citizens that they will be able to move back to their homes and resume their lives without any more inconvenience.
Their appeal becomes more urgent as the winter months get closer.