IRGC Commander Urges Services for Pakistani Arbaeen Pilgrims
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari ordered IRGC forces in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan to provide services for Pakistani pilgrims passing through Iran to Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage.
In an order on Saturday addressed to Commander of the IRGC’s Salman Unit in Sistan and Balouchestan Brigadier General Amanollah Gashtasbi, Major General Jafari called for efforts to provide welfare for Pakistani pilgrims entering Iran on their way to Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage.
“Given the large number of pilgrims from Pakistan who enter our country from Sistan and Balouchestan borders in order to participate in the massive Arbaeen marches, it is necessary that appropriate services and welfare facilities be provided for these dear ones through mobilizing facilities and cooperating with the governmental and popular institutions of the province, as soon as possible,” the commander said in the order.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraq by land can choose from three border crossings, Shalamcheh, Chazzabeh and Mehran.
This year’s Arbaeen falls on October 30.
