Poll: Afghanistani Arbaeen Pilgrims Victims of Kabul’s Weak Diplomacy

DID Press: In a latest poll conducted by DID Press on the challenges faced by Afghanistani pilgrims traveling to Iraq, lack of an active Afghanistan’s political representation in Iraq was identified as the most important factor depriving these pilgrims of official and independent facilities.

According to the results of this online poll, 70% of participants said absence of a strong and proactive diplomatic body in Baghdad is the main reason for this deprivation.

In contrast, the remaining 30% attributed the situation to weak regional coordination in managing pilgrims’ affairs.

Other options—such as Iraq’s focus on pilgrims from Arab countries and a discriminatory attitude toward Afghanustani pilgrims—received no votes.

These statistics come as, every year, thousands of Afghanistani pilgrims, without adequate access to consular and welfare services, face numerous hardships along the route to the holy shrines, and this Arbaeen, thousands of hearts devoted to Aba Abdillah al-Hussain (peace be upon him) were deprived of visiting his shrine during the Arbaeen period.

Lack of effective support structures, accommodation issues, transportation difficulties, and visa issuance problems—long-standing challenges for Afghanistan pilgrims—were multiplied this year, ultimately preventing them from participating in the great procession of the “Caravan of Hussain Love.”

Summary
Experts believe that without active diplomatic presence and bilateral agreements with the Iraqi government, no significant change can be expected in the situation of Afghanistan pilgrims. This poll once again underlines the urgent need to rebuild regional relations and strengthen Afghanistan’s political representation