Taftan, Balochistan – A steady stream of Pakistani nationals is crossing the remote border at Taftan after fleeing Iran, describing a harrowing escape marked by missile strikes, overcrowded transport, and rising panic following the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran.
AFP journalists at the crossing between Iran’s Mirjaveh and Pakistan’s Taftan witnessed families hauling bulky luggage through large metal gates, as the Iranian flag flew at half-mast and soldiers stood guard. Freight lorries formed a long line, waiting to clear the frontier.
‘Major Transport Problems’
Ameer Muhammad, a 38-year-old trader, described the chaos that unfolded as thousands attempted to leave.
“All our Pakistani brothers who were in Tehran and other cities had started to leave and were arriving at the terminal, which caused a lot of crowd pressure,” he told AFP on Monday.
“Due to the crowds, there were major transport problems.”
The Taftan border, located approximately 500 kilometers from Quetta, is ill-equipped to handle a mass influx. Evacuees reported long waits and scarce resources.
‘We Saw Many Missiles Being Fired’
Irshad Ahmed, a 49-year-old pilgrim, recounted the terrifying moment the war arrived at his doorstep.
“There was an army base near the hostel, and we saw many missiles being fired,” Ahmed said. “After that, we went to the Pakistani embassy so that they could evacuate us from there. They brought us here safely.”
A teacher at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, who gave his name as Saqib, said the situation had initially seemed normal.
“Before we left, the situation was normal. The situation was not that bad,” the 38-year-old said. But the strikes on Saturday changed everything. “The situation became bad on Saturday night, when attacks caused precious lives to be lost.”
Official Condemnation from Islamabad
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a breach of international norms.
“It is an age old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,” PM Shehbaz wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that the “people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom” of Khamenei.
The Broader Context
The exodus at Taftan is a microcosm of a region in turmoil. Since Saturday, powerful explosions have rocked Tehran and other Iranian cities. Embassies from around the world have urged their citizens to leave, triggering a mass movement of foreign nationals toward border crossings.
For the Pakistanis now safely across the frontier, the sounds of missiles and the sight of panic will not soon be forgotten.
