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Pakistan blocks at least 30 migrants deported from Greece | Pakistan blocks at least 30 migrants deported from Greece |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pakistan has refused entry to at least 30 migrants deported from Greece, saying their identities could not be verified. | Pakistan has refused entry to at least 30 migrants deported from Greece, saying their identities could not be verified. |
They were among a group flown from Athens to Islamabad on Thursday. | They were among a group flown from Athens to Islamabad on Thursday. |
Nineteen verified migrants were allowed to disembark while the rest were flown back to Athens, officials said. | Nineteen verified migrants were allowed to disembark while the rest were flown back to Athens, officials said. |
Pakistan is one of the top countries of origin of illegal migrants to Europe, according to statistical institute Eurostat. | Pakistan is one of the top countries of origin of illegal migrants to Europe, according to statistical institute Eurostat. |
Islamabad had suspended its agreement with the European Union to accept repatriation of illegal Pakistani migrants, citing misuse. | Islamabad had suspended its agreement with the European Union to accept repatriation of illegal Pakistani migrants, citing misuse. |
However, the dispute was settled last week after meetings with the EU Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos. | However, the dispute was settled last week after meetings with the EU Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos. |
'Laws violated' | 'Laws violated' |
The EU's representative office in Pakistan said all those on board had travel documents issued by Pakistani embassies. | The EU's representative office in Pakistan said all those on board had travel documents issued by Pakistani embassies. |
But Pakistan's interior ministry said those sent back to Greece had lacked Pakistan-issued identification cards. and thus their nationalities could not be verified. | But Pakistan's interior ministry said those sent back to Greece had lacked Pakistan-issued identification cards. and thus their nationalities could not be verified. |
"Despite having settled all issues with the European Commissioner, Pakistani laws have been violated, which absolutely cannot be allowed," said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. | |
Greece has been facing pressure from EU partners to directly deport migrants arriving from Turkey instead of allowing them to move to elsewhere in Europe. | Greece has been facing pressure from EU partners to directly deport migrants arriving from Turkey instead of allowing them to move to elsewhere in Europe. |
Europe is in the midst of a migrants crisis as hundreds of thousands of people have arrived on its shores, many of them fleeing fighting in Syria. | Europe is in the midst of a migrants crisis as hundreds of thousands of people have arrived on its shores, many of them fleeing fighting in Syria. |