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| Pakistan blocks 30 migrants deported from Greece | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistan has refused entry to 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. | "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. |