The Pakistani pilgrims who intend to participate in the annual Arba’een pilgrimage in Iraq can go there via Iran’s land route, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iraq has agreed to allow entry of Pakistani pilgrims to participate in the Arba’een pilgrimage this year.

After several rounds of negotiations, the Iraqi government has agreed to admit Pakistani pilgrims traveling through Iran this year.

A large number of Pakistani Arba’een pilgrims cross Gabd-Rimdan border in southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan to reach Iraq.

Arba’ee pilgrimage is one of the world’s biggest religious congregations, devotedly observed in Iraq and neighbouring Iran.

The pilgrims walk on foot for miles to reach Karbala every year in the season of Arba’een.

This year, the Arba’een pilgrimage will be held on September 6.

The Arba’een pilgrimage marks the end of a 40-day mourning period after Ashura. The event is held every year to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein (RA) - grandson of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — by the forces of Yazid in 680 AD.

Last year, 20 million pilgrims, swelled by a record influx of Iranians, converged on the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala to mark Arba’een.

Reporter Mohsinul Mulk