Pakistan and Iran agreed to strengthen border cooperation and significantly improve facilities for religious pilgrims before the Islamic months of Muharram and Arbaeen, according to APP.
The decisions were made during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, in Tehran on Wednesday. Senior officials of both countries were also present.
As part of the new understanding, the border between Pakistan-Iran will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to guarantee a soft movement for pilgrims.
The Iranian government will provide accommodation and meals in Mashhad for up to 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims. A direct line will also be established between the two countries to solve cross -border problems.
In a key development, the ministers agreed to convene a trilateral meeting that involves Pakistan, Iran and Iraq in Mashhad before Arbaeen. The meeting aims to improve logistics and administrative arrangements for pilgrims who make the religious trip.
The two parties also discussed the increase in the number of flights for pilgrims and explored the possibility of traveling in the sea to facilitate traffic.
Cooperation was also addressed when stopping illegal immigration, human trafficking and drug smuggling. Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of a stronger coordination among border forces to improve regional security.
Naqvi expressed his gratitude to Iran for his continuous support for Pakistani pilgrims and assured cooperation with respect to the release of Iranian fishermen who crossed inadvertently in the Pakistani waters.
