TORKHAM: In a major development for Pakistani transporters and drivers who have been facing difficulties for the past nine months due to border restrictions on the Afghan side, the return of empty transit container vehicles from Afghanistan has begun.

According to transporter sources, two empty transit container vehicles arrived in Pakistan through the Torkham border in the first phase, bringing relief and optimism to the transport community and drivers.

Sources said that hundreds of Pakistani vehicles had remained stranded in Afghanistan for months due to the border situation, causing severe financial losses, business disruptions, and mental stress for transporters and vehicle owners.

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To press for the return of the vehicles, transporters and drivers staged several protests in Landi Kotal. Protesters also blocked the Pakistan-Afghanistan Highway on multiple occasions to draw the authorities’ attention to the issue.

The transporters maintained that their vehicles had been stuck in Afghanistan for an extended period, leaving drivers and owners facing significant hardships, and urged the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action.

Transporters described the start of the repatriation process as a significant achievement after months of efforts and expressed hope that all remaining stranded containers and transit vehicles would soon be allowed to return to Pakistan.

Local transporters said the transport and trade sector linked to the Torkham border was already facing numerous challenges, adding that the return of the vehicles would provide much-needed relief not only to drivers but also to their families.