Islamabad:
Pakistan, Iran and Iraq agree to establish a joint working group to streamline travel arrangements for pilgrims after a trilateral conference on the countries’ domestic ministers held in Tehran on Monday.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who spoke at the meeting, thanked his Iranian colleague Eskandar Momeni for hosting the conference at Pakistan’s request and highlighting the growing need to tackle questions that Pilgrim visits Iran and Iraq.
“Pilgrims traveling to Iraq and Iran are of great importance to us,” he said. “This trilateral forum will pave the way for improved facilities and support.”
Naqvi stated that from January 1, 3 from January 1, 2026, Pakistani Pilgrims will only be allowed to travel to Iraq under officially registered group organizers.
He said that the registration process for “Zairen Group organizers” has begun, and only individuals assigned to special embassy issued visas are allowed to travel independently.
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“The organizers are responsible for securing Pilgrim’s safe return,” he said. “This system will help slow down illegal travel and transcends problems.”
Naqvi also praised both the Iraqi and Iranian governments for their efforts to manage large quantities of pilgrimage. “Taking care of millions of Zaireen is a significant challenge, and both interior minister fulfills this duty effectively,” he said.
He praised Iran’s leadership under the recent hostilities and said, “Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stood firm and led with courage. We congratulate him and the Iranian people with this victory.”
Naqvi repeated Pakistan’s support to Iran during his recent conflict with Israel. “Pakistan condemned unequivocally attacked on Iran and supported his right to self -defense,” he said, adding that both the Pakistani people and the government stood firm on Iran’s side.
The conference was also attended by Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Pour-Jamshidian, Senior Iranian and Iraqi officials, Pakistani ambassador to Iran Mohammad Mudassar Tipu and domestic secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha.
