Dozens of Pakistani nationals crossed back into Balochistan through the remote Taftan border after powerful explosions rocked Iranian cities, describing scenes of missile fire and mounting travel chaos following US and Israeli strikes.
Read More: 70 Pakistanis repatriated from Iran via Taftan border
At the crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan, AFP journalists witnessed families hauling heavy suitcases through metal gates as freight trucks queued nearby. The border point lies roughly 500 kilometres from Quetta and serves as a key land route between the two countries.
Thirty-eight-year-old trader Ameer Muhammad said large crowds of Pakistanis had gathered at terminals in Tehran and other cities after news of the strikes spread. “All our Pakistani brothers who were in Tehran had started to leave,” he said, adding that congestion led to serious transport problems.
Irshad Ahmed, a 49-year-old pilgrim, recounted seeing missiles launched near his hostel in Tehran. “There was an army base nearby, and we saw many missiles being fired,” he said. He later sought assistance from the Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran, which helped arrange evacuation to the border.
The violence follows US and Israeli attacks in Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliatory strikes and heightened regional tensions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing as a violation of international law, stating that targeting heads of state contravenes longstanding conventions. He expressed condolences to the Iranian people and described the incident as a grave development.
The Government and 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 His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali
Khamenei.Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 1, 2026
At the border, the Iranian flag flew at half-mast as soldiers stood guard. While some evacuees described the situation in Tehran as manageable before Saturday night, they said the intensity of the strikes and resulting casualties prompted them to leave.
Read More: 1,814 Pakistanis return back from Iran to Chagai
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as more Pakistanis are expected to return in the coming days amid uncertainty over further escalation.