ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Office has confirmed that 268 Pakistani pilgrims have safely returned from Iraq through two special flights operated from Basra to Karachi and Islamabad.
The Foreign Office said that the government is actively working to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of all remaining Pakistani pilgrims still stranded in Iraq. A spokesperson emphasised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains in constant coordination with relevant authorities to facilitate this process.
Pilgrims have been urged to stay in close contact with the Pakistani Embassy in Baghdad to receive timely updates. The spokesperson also mentioned that Iraqi Airways is currently operating daily flights on the Basra–Dubai route, which could serve as an alternate means of returning to Pakistan. Pilgrims are advised to remain ready for travel at short notice.
At the same time, Pakistani nationals are also returning from Iran in growing numbers. A significant number of pilgrims and students have re-entered Pakistan through the Taftan and Gabd border crossings in Balochistan.
According to Taftan Assistant Commissioner Naeem Shahwani, 345 pilgrims and 45 students crossed into Pakistan via the Taftan border on Monday alone, bringing the total number of returnees via this route to 873. These individuals are being temporarily accommodated at Pakistan House in Taftan.
In a related development, 193 Pakistani students who had been studying in Iran returned to Pakistan through the Gabd-Ramdan crossing in Gwadar. Gwadar Assistant Commissioner Jawad Ahmad Zehri stated that the students had been enrolled in five different universities across Iran and expressed their gratitude to the government for ensuring their safe return.
In light of the ongoing regional instability, Pakistan has also temporarily closed its borders with Iran at several key points, including Kech, Gwadar, Washuk, Panjgur, and Chagai. This move has halted the movement of pilgrims and trade caravans into Iran, although Iranian citizens are still permitted to return to their country, and Iranian trade convoys can continue to enter Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have handed over 90 Pakistani nationals who were found residing illegally in Iran, tightening border controls and reinforcing security cooperation between the two nations.
Read also: Evacuation of Pakistanis from Iran continue as180 citizens return safely through Taftan border
