France on Tuesday returned nearly 450 ancient relics to Pakistan, some dating as far back as 4,000 BC, intercepted by French customs agents over a decade ago.
The packages were seized by customs officers at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport and identified by the National Centre for Scientific Research as artefacts stolen from cemeteries in Indus Valley.
They were handed over to Pakistan’s Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d’Affaires Muhammad Amjad Aziz Qazi during a ceremony at the Embassy of Pakistan in Paris.
Among the items on display at the embassy to mark the handover consisted of beautifully crafted pots, vases and jars, all embellished with small, conventional motifs of animals, plants and trees.
Qazi expressed his gratitude towards Paris for making continuous efforts to pursue the repatriation case in French courts.
