Taliban Administration in Herat Forms Committee to Organize Arbaeen Pilgrims’ Dispatch to Iraq

The Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Herat has announced the establishment of a joint committee to organize and coordinate the dispatch of Arbaeen pilgrims to Iraq in this province.

Hafiz Mohammad Qasem Akhundzada, the Tourism Director of this department, stated that this year, up to fifteen thousand pilgrims have traveled through the Islam Qala border to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen ceremony in the city of Karbala. According to him, the committee is headed by the Department of Information and Culture and includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Herat, the Transport Department, the Public Health Department, the Islam Qala Commissionerate, the Police Command, the Passport Directorate, the Intelligence Department, and tourism and pilgrimage companies.

This Taliban official claimed that the necessary coordination has been made to provide services and facilitate the needs of pilgrims in Herat.

However, while thousands of Afghan citizens travel annually via the Islam Qala route to participate in the Arbaeen ceremonies in Karbala, due to recent security developments and regional conflicts, it remains unclear whether this year’s ceremony and the dispatch of pilgrims will proceed without restrictions. Islam Qala border in Herat province is one of the main land crossings between Afghanistan and Iran, and a significant portion of pilgrimage travel takes place through this route.