Foreign pilgrims leave for Karbala only from Shalamcheh border/ Arbaeen pilgrims travel with 3 types of passports
According to Aria Heritage report, Siddimjid Mirahmadi said in a meeting, referring to the plans to facilitate the movement of this year’s Arbaeen pilgrims, that according to the plan, these pilgrims will travel from the borders of Chadaba and Shalamcheh in Khuzestan province, Mehran in Ilam province, Khosravi in Kermanshah province and Bashmaq in Kurdistan. They are leaving for Karbala and the Somar border in Kermanshah province has been set for the transfer of equipment for Arbaeen processions to Iraq.
Mirahmadi said: With the coordination of the Iraqi side, very good arrangements have been made this year for easy passage of pilgrims through the country’s five borders with 3 types of passports.
He explained about this: These passports include the international passport which is valid for five years, the special Arbaeen passport which is valid from 1st to 30th of Safar, and the passports whose validity period has ended and we will extend it.
The head of Arbaeen Hosseini’s central headquarters added: the pilgrims’ traffic conditions will be such that they have the least delay at the terminals.
Deputy Interior Minister for Police Security said: Shalamcheh border has been considered for the departure of foreign pilgrims to Karbala Mu’ala during this year’s Arbaeen.
Referring to the problems and delays in the departure of foreign pilgrims, especially Pakistani pilgrims, during last year’s Arbaeen, Mir Ahmadi added: “Necessary arrangements have been made with the Iraqi side for foreign pilgrims to cross the international border.”
He said: From our point of view, there is no difference between Iranian and foreign pilgrims in terms of comfort facilities.
He said: Iraq’s infrastructure does not have the capacity to accept more than 3 million pilgrims, while we have many problems in the country’s infrastructure, especially in terms of transportation, and we lack about 6,000 buses.
The Head of the Arbaeen Headquarters further added: Of course, the Iraqi side did not insist much on the restrictions of accepting Arbaeen pilgrims this year, but we must provide conditions so that the pilgrims can cross the borders and return safely with peace, order and comfort.
The deputy security minister of the interior added: Iraq has requested that we help them to move the pilgrims in Iraq, so that the pilgrims have less problems due to the heat this year.
Mirahmadi added: Of course, Iraq’s transportation facilities for pilgrims are limited, and we had many problems during Arbaeen last year to transport and return pilgrims.
He said: “Iran and the Iraqi side have not created any restrictions for the departure of Iranian pilgrims and foreign nationals, and even if there are more than four million pilgrims, there will be no restrictions on the departure of pilgrims.”
According to him, during last year’s Arbaeen, a total of 3.8 million pilgrims (Iranians and foreigners) from the country’s five borders went to the holy cities of Iraq, especially Karbala and Najaf Ashraf.
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