News Desk
TEHRAN: In a significant development easing travel for Pakistani pilgrims, Pakistan and Iran have agreed to keep their shared border open 24 hours during key religious events, including Arbaeen and Muharram. The announcement followed a productive meeting in Tehran between Pakistan’s federal interior minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iranian interior minister Eskandar Momnian.
Both sides discussed enhancing facilities for pilgrims, border management, and security cooperation. Under the agreement, the border will remain open round the clock to accommodate the millions of pilgrims travelling during these sacred occasions. Iran also pledged to provide lodging and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad and make special arrangements for pilgrims journeying from the border to Iraq.
To improve communication and swiftly resolve any issues faced by pilgrims, the two countries agreed to establish a dedicated hotline for border authorities. They also planned a trilateral conference before Arbaeen involving officials from Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq, aimed at coordinating travel, security, and services for pilgrims. Discussions included increasing flights to facilitate pilgrim travel and exploring the possibility of sea routes to Iran and Iraq.
Beyond pilgrim affairs, the meeting addressed broader border issues such as illegal immigration, human smuggling, and drug trafficking, and improving security cooperation. The Iranian interior minister emphasized Pakistan’s security as a top priority and described serving pilgrims as a religious duty. A related matter discussed was the release of Iranian fishermen who had accidentally entered Pakistani waters, with assurances of full cooperation from both sides.
