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Pakistan Sends 30 Migrants Back to Europe Pakistan Sends 30 Migrants Back to Europe
(35 minutes later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan sent 30 migrants back to three European countries on Thursday after refusing to allow them to disembark from a chartered plane at an airport in Islamabad, officials said, a move that reflected growing frustration over the treatment of asylum seekers.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan sent 30 migrants back to three European countries on Thursday after refusing to allow them to disembark from a chartered plane at an airport in Islamabad, officials said, a move that reflected growing frustration over the treatment of asylum seekers.
Sarfraz Hussain, a spokesman for the Pakistani Interior Ministry, described the migrants as “unverified deportees,” mostly from Greece, saying the authorities would not permit anyone to enter the country without proper documentation.Sarfraz Hussain, a spokesman for the Pakistani Interior Ministry, described the migrants as “unverified deportees,” mostly from Greece, saying the authorities would not permit anyone to enter the country without proper documentation.
Greece is the most popular entry point for asylum seekers in Europe, and on Thursday, the country’s migration minister said it would take steps to address the deteriorating situation along the border with Macedonia, where a migrant died on Thursday. Greece is the most popular entry point for asylum seekers in Europe, and on Thursday, its migration minister said the country would take steps to address the deteriorating situation along the border with Macedonia, where a migrant died on Thursday.
The Pakistani interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said last month that European countries were sending people back to Pakistan without identifying their nationality, and the developments on Thursday were the first time that the country had refused to allow deportees in.The Pakistani interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said last month that European countries were sending people back to Pakistan without identifying their nationality, and the developments on Thursday were the first time that the country had refused to allow deportees in.
In a statement, the European Union said on Thursday that Pakistan was requiring identification information about the deportees above and beyond what was called for in a readmission agreement reached in 2010, and said the case illustrated the need to improve the accord.In a statement, the European Union said on Thursday that Pakistan was requiring identification information about the deportees above and beyond what was called for in a readmission agreement reached in 2010, and said the case illustrated the need to improve the accord.
Officials said that 49 passengers, who were flown to Benazir Bhutto International Airport, were not allowed to leave the plane.Officials said that 49 passengers, who were flown to Benazir Bhutto International Airport, were not allowed to leave the plane.
The passengers were questioned, and the authorities then allowed 19 people to disembark after they were confirmed to be Pakistani citizens. They were then taken into custody by a unit of the Interior Ministry that deals with human trafficking.The passengers were questioned, and the authorities then allowed 19 people to disembark after they were confirmed to be Pakistani citizens. They were then taken into custody by a unit of the Interior Ministry that deals with human trafficking.
Pakistanis have been among the huge influx of asylum seekers into Europe this year, but unlike those from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, who are fleeing war at home, Pakistanis are rarely allowed to remain because they are viewed as economic migrants.Pakistanis have been among the huge influx of asylum seekers into Europe this year, but unlike those from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, who are fleeing war at home, Pakistanis are rarely allowed to remain because they are viewed as economic migrants.
A Greek police official, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said “action will be taken” when the migrants were returned to Greece, but he did not elaborate, noting that the flight was organized by Frontex, the European Union’s border monitoring agency.A Greek police official, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said “action will be taken” when the migrants were returned to Greece, but he did not elaborate, noting that the flight was organized by Frontex, the European Union’s border monitoring agency.
The Greek official said 39 of the people on the plane had been deported from Greece, with the other 10 from Austria and Bulgaria. Of the 30 who were not allowed to enter Pakistan, 26 were from Greece.The Greek official said 39 of the people on the plane had been deported from Greece, with the other 10 from Austria and Bulgaria. Of the 30 who were not allowed to enter Pakistan, 26 were from Greece.
Pakistan tightened its policy on readmitting migrants last month, and Mr. Khan said an agreement to take migrants back in was the subject of “blatant misuse” by several European countries. Yiannis Mouzalas, the Greek migration minister, said it was the responsibility of the European Union to intervene.Pakistan tightened its policy on readmitting migrants last month, and Mr. Khan said an agreement to take migrants back in was the subject of “blatant misuse” by several European countries. Yiannis Mouzalas, the Greek migration minister, said it was the responsibility of the European Union to intervene.
“If the E.U. can’t pressure Pakistan, how is it possible for Greece to pressure Pakistan?” he asked.“If the E.U. can’t pressure Pakistan, how is it possible for Greece to pressure Pakistan?” he asked.
Mr. Khan said that many of the 90,000 citizens of Pakistan who were deported last year had been treated unfairly, and he expressed concern that many from his country who were found traveling without proper documents were being labeled terrorists by Western countries.Mr. Khan said that many of the 90,000 citizens of Pakistan who were deported last year had been treated unfairly, and he expressed concern that many from his country who were found traveling without proper documents were being labeled terrorists by Western countries.
After a meeting on Nov. 23 between Mr. Khan and Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union commissioner for migration, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to manage migration and security issues.After a meeting on Nov. 23 between Mr. Khan and Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Union commissioner for migration, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation to manage migration and security issues.
On Thursday, however, Mr. Hussain said Greece had violated the agreement, complaining of “immoral, inhuman and illegal” conduct.On Thursday, however, Mr. Hussain said Greece had violated the agreement, complaining of “immoral, inhuman and illegal” conduct.
In Greece, Mr. Mouzalas, said the authorities were determined to resolve peacefully the situation at the border with Macedonia, a key crossing point as migrants head north, in the next 10 days. In Greece, Mr. Mouzalas, said the authorities were determined to resolve peacefully the situation at the border with Macedonia, a crucial crossing point as migrants head north, in the next 10 days.
The International Organization for Migration said that the borders had been closed because of extensive protests and rioting in the area, and that a 22-year-old Moroccan citizen had died after being electrocuted.The International Organization for Migration said that the borders had been closed because of extensive protests and rioting in the area, and that a 22-year-old Moroccan citizen had died after being electrocuted.
The police and local aid workers said he was killed in what was believed to be an accident after he touched a high-voltage cable when he climbed on top of a stationary train near the border.The police and local aid workers said he was killed in what was believed to be an accident after he touched a high-voltage cable when he climbed on top of a stationary train near the border.
Mr. Mouzalas said that migrants would be given temporary accommodation in Athens, and that Greece had asked Frontex for 100 people to help with identification of migrants along the border with Macedonia and hundreds more to provide assistance along the porous sea border with Turkey, a crucial transit country for migrants heading toward Europe. (He noted that the Turkish authorities were now responding to Greek requests for the readmission of migrants, after declining to do so in the past.)Mr. Mouzalas said that migrants would be given temporary accommodation in Athens, and that Greece had asked Frontex for 100 people to help with identification of migrants along the border with Macedonia and hundreds more to provide assistance along the porous sea border with Turkey, a crucial transit country for migrants heading toward Europe. (He noted that the Turkish authorities were now responding to Greek requests for the readmission of migrants, after declining to do so in the past.)
Tensions flared on Thursday when groups of migrants gathered in front of the border crossing between Greece and Macedonia after they were denied passage.Tensions flared on Thursday when groups of migrants gathered in front of the border crossing between Greece and Macedonia after they were denied passage.
The situation escalated when groups of migrants from Morocco and Iran started throwing stones at one another, according to Constance Theisen of Doctors Without Borders.The situation escalated when groups of migrants from Morocco and Iran started throwing stones at one another, according to Constance Theisen of Doctors Without Borders.
Refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, who have been allowed to cross the border, were “hanging back,” she said, and waiting for the Macedonian authorities to allow crossings to resume.Refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, who have been allowed to cross the border, were “hanging back,” she said, and waiting for the Macedonian authorities to allow crossings to resume.
The situation calmed in the early afternoon, Ms. Theisen said, adding that the scuffles were occurring almost daily.The situation calmed in the early afternoon, Ms. Theisen said, adding that the scuffles were occurring almost daily.
“They fight for food, for clothes, out of frustration at their situation,” she said.“They fight for food, for clothes, out of frustration at their situation,” she said.
On Wednesday, she said, the Macedonian police fired rubber bullets as well as tear gas. One migrant was hospitalized on Thursday, she said, but it was unclear if he was injured in scuffles with migrants or the police.On Wednesday, she said, the Macedonian police fired rubber bullets as well as tear gas. One migrant was hospitalized on Thursday, she said, but it was unclear if he was injured in scuffles with migrants or the police.
Mr. Mouzalas also addressed reports that the European Union was threatening to suspend Greece from the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel through much of Europe. He noted that the possiblity had not been broached formally and that “the discussion started in countries like Hungary, which have a different outlook on immigration than we do.” Mr. Mouzalas also addressed reports that the European Union was threatening to suspend Greece from the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel through much of Europe. He noted that the possibility had not been broached formally and that “the discussion started in countries like Hungary, which have a different outlook on immigration than we do.”
Hungary has built a fence along parts of its border to keep out migrants, and on Thursday, its prime minister, Viktor Orban, said it would file suit against the European Union to block a plan to redistribute 160,000 migrants across the bloc based on a quota system. Hungary has built a fence along parts of its border to keep out migrants, and on Thursday, its prime minister, Viktor Orban, said it would sue the European Union to block a plan to redistribute 160,000 migrants across the bloc based on a quota system.
Mr. Mouzalas also expressed frustation with that plan, suggesting that the European Union was not doing enough to help Greece relocate 66,000 refugees to other member states. European Union countries have only made 295 places available for refugee relocations, he said. Mr. Mouzalas also expressed frustration with that plan, suggesting that the European Union was not doing enough to help Greece move 66,000 refugees to other member states. European Union countries have only made 295 places available for refugee relocations, he said.
Speaking in Parliament earlier on Thursday, Mr. Mouzalas said Greece had asked the European Union to deploy its civil protection mechanism, which aims to foster cooperation among the national civil protection authorities in Europe, to help tackle the migrant crisis.Speaking in Parliament earlier on Thursday, Mr. Mouzalas said Greece had asked the European Union to deploy its civil protection mechanism, which aims to foster cooperation among the national civil protection authorities in Europe, to help tackle the migrant crisis.