ISLAMABAD: Pakistani nationals hauled heavy suitcases across the border from neighbouring Iran on Monday, recounting scenes of missile launches and travel chaos as they rushed to leave following US and Israeli strikes over the weekend.
AFP journalists witnessed a steady flow of people passing through large metal gates at the remote crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Families, traders and pilgrims wheeled bulky luggage across the frontier’s pedestrian route, while freight trucks lined up in long queues nearby.
Powerful explosions have rocked Iran’s capital, Tehran, since Saturday, prompting embassies from several countries to advise their citizens 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,” said Ameer Muhammad, a 38-year-old trader. “Due to the crowds, there were major transport problems.”
The Taftan crossing lies about 500 kilometres (310 miles) from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and is one of the few official land routes between the two countries. On the Iranian side, AFP reporters saw the national flag flying at half-mast as security personnel stood guard.
Irshad Ahmed, a 49-year-old pilgrim, described seeing missiles launched near his accommodation in Tehran.
“There was an army base near the hostel, and we saw many missiles being fired,” he said. “After that, we went to the Pakistani embassy so that they could evacuate us from there. They brought us here safely.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a “violation” of international law.
“It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X. He added that the people of Pakistan stood with Iran “in their hour of grief and sorrow” and extended condolences on Khamenei’s “martyrdom.”
A teacher at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, who identified himself as Saqib, said the situation had initially appeared manageable.
“Before we left, the situation was normal. The situation was not that bad,” the 38-year-old said. However, he added that strikes on Saturday night forced many to reconsider.
“The situation became bad when attacks caused precious lives to be lost.”
As tensions continue to escalate, more Pakistanis are expected to cross through Taftan in the coming days, seeking safety amid growing regional uncertainty.
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