Return Of Afghan Pilgrims Begins From Saudi Arabia

(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) "> KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs (MoHRA) has announced the start of the return of Afghan pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, with the first flight bringing back 346 pilgrims from Nangarhar province along with seven Hajj instructors.

In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the repatriation process would be carried out in two phases through the country's four aviation zones: Kabul, Balkh, Kandahar and Herat.

Under the first phase, nearly half of the pilgrims who were flown directly from Afghanistan to Madinah at the start of the Hajj journey will return via Jeddah International Airport.

In the second phase, the remaining pilgrims who traveled directly to Makkah through Jeddah will first be transferred to Madinah after completing 40 prayers at the Prophet's Mosque and visiting the city's religious and historical sites. They will then return to Afghanistan according to a pre-arranged schedule.

The ministry said the first return flight, operated by Kam Air from Jeddah, landed at Kabul International Airport at 9:50 a.m. local time on Monday. The flight carried 346 pilgrims from Nangarhar and seven accompanying Hajj instructors.

The ministry added that the return of all 30,000 Afghan pilgrims would be completed through 97 flights over the next 30 days in an orderly manner and according to schedule.

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