Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday that Pakistani pilgrims will not be allowed to travel to Iran and Iraq via land routes for this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage, citing public safety and national security concerns.
Arbaeen, observed 40 days after Ashura, marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Thousands of Pakistani pilgrims travel annually to Iraq via Iran to attend the religious ceremonies.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Minister Naqvi stated:
“After detailed consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government, and security agencies, it has been decided that pilgrims will not be allowed to travel overland to Iran and Iraq this year.”
He added that the “difficult decision was made in the interest of public safety and national security.”
The announcement came after Naqvi briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the new travel policy for pilgrims. The Prime Minister has instructed relevant departments to arrange additional flights to facilitate air travel for pilgrims.
New Travel Management System from January 2026
The federal government is set to introduce a new travel management system for pilgrims starting January 1, 2026. Under the new policy, only registered tour operators will be authorized to manage pilgrim travel, replacing the traditional “Salar system” with a formal “Group Organizers Model.”
The number of weekly flights to Iran will increase from 6 to 15, while 107 special flights will be arranged for pilgrims traveling to Iraq. Additionally, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has launched a modern online registration system for all pilgrims heading to Iran, Iraq, and Syria to minimize errors and strengthen security.
Authorities say that part of the motivation for this system is to prevent people from misusing religious pilgrimage as a cover to migrate illegally to Europe.
Security, Geopolitical Tensions Behind the Ban
The government has also decided to share complete lists of pilgrims with the governments of Iran, Iraq, and Syria ahead of their departure.
The decision has sparked criticism on social media, with many users suggesting the move is driven by security concerns in Balochistan. Sources indicate the ban is also linked to Iran’s internal security situation and heightened tensions between Iran and Israel following their June 16 confrontation.
Tightened security measures on Iran’s borders and fragile regional stability have made the safety of foreign pilgrims more challenging. According to officials, temporarily halting land travel is a practical step to manage risks and ease the burden of monitoring Pakistani citizens abroad.
Another major concern is the increasing number of pilgrims who go missing after reaching these countries on religious visas. Interior Minister Naqvi reportedly assured Iranian and Iraqi officials during his July 15 visit that Pakistan is addressing this issue.
Missing Pilgrims and Abuse of Religious Visas
Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yusuf recently revealed that Pakistani authorities have no information on the whereabouts of approximately 40,000 pilgrims who entered Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Immigration officials say many of these individuals are either begging in Iraq, working illegally, or have used pilgrimage routes to reach Europe via Turkey.
In July 2024, the FIA’s Additional Director of Immigration in Quetta sent a letter to the FIA’s Taftan border in-charge citing a report from FIA headquarters in Islamabad. It revealed that 66 women and their children were detained in Baghdad for being involved in begging.
