Pakistan and Iran have agreed to keep their shared border open around the clock during the Islamic months of Muharram and Safar to facilitate religious pilgrims traveling between the two countries.
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting in Tehran between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni. The two sides made several important commitments aimed at improving pilgrim services and enhancing border cooperation.
Representing Iran at the meeting were Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, Deputy Minister Nader Yar Ahmadi, Adviser Hadian, Governor General of Sistan and Baluchestan Mansour Bager, and Colonel Javaheri, Head of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior. Senior Pakistani officials, including the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), were also in attendance.
As part of the new agreement, Iran will provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in the city of Mashhad. A direct hotline will also be established between the two countries to quickly resolve any operational issues related to pilgrim movement.
To ensure better planning for the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage, a trilateral coordination meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad in the coming weeks.
Both sides also agreed to expand the number of flights for pilgrims and to explore the possibility of introducing sea routes to improve accessibility.
In addition to pilgrim-related matters, the ministers discussed broader bilateral cooperation, particularly in combating illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. Both countries pledged to enhance coordination for more effective border security.
Minister Naqvi thanked the Iranian government for its continued hospitality and support for Pakistani pilgrims and also assured cooperation regarding the release of Iranian fishermen who had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani waters.
Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni reaffirmed Iran’s close ties with Pakistan and emphasized that Pakistan’s security is of critical importance to Iran. He described serving pilgrims as a religious responsibility and a shared duty.
The meeting came just two days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Tehran as part of a four-nation diplomatic tour aimed at thanking regional allies for their support during Pakistan’s recent conflict with India.
During his visit, the Prime Minister met with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei to discuss matters of mutual and regional concern.
In a joint press conference, Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with India to promote peace and stability in South Asia.
“We seek peace… and are prepared to talk, including on the Kashmir issue, for the sake of regional stability,” he said.
