ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced has that from January 1, 2026, Pakistani pilgrims will no longer be allowed to travel individually to Iraq without a special visa issued by the Iraqi embassy.
Instead, all pilgrims will be required to travel through approved group organizers.
The announcement came during a trilateral meeting of the interior ministers of Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq held in Tehran. The three countries agreed to take all possible steps to facilitate pilgrims traveling to Iran and Iraq, and decided to establish a joint working group for better coordination.
Naqvi said group organizers would be responsible for ensuring the safe travel and return of pilgrims, helping to prevent illegal entries and overstays in Iraq.
The Iranian Interior Minister described Naqvi’s visit as a positive development for bilateral relations.
During the meeting, Naqvi also congratulated Iran and its interior minister on what he called a “splendid victory in war,” noting Pakistan’s unequivocal condemnation of the attack on Iran and its full support for Iran’s right to self-defense.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s government and people stood with Iran during the conflict, with the prime minister and other senior officials playing an active and constructive role.
