Pakistan eases its three-week border shutdown with Afghanistan to allow refugee returns, but trade remains halted as fragile ceasefire diplomacy struggles to contain wider tensions. Pakistan has partially reopened the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan, allowing thousands of stranded Afghan refugees to return home almost three weeks after deadly clashes forced Islamabad to seal all entry and exit points along the frontier. Trade and other cross-border movement remain suspended, highlighting continuing fragility despite a ceasefire agreement between the neighbours. The reopening marks the first easing of restrictions since Pakistan shut down the frontier on 12 October after intense fighting along