FO says India’s reply on Jadhav received, under consideration

• India requests Pakistan to allow Indian Navy officer’s mother and his wife for proposed meeting

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Saturday said that India’s reply to Pakistan’s humanitarian offer for convicted Indian agent Kulbhushan Jadhav was received and under consideration.

On November 10, Pakistan wrote a letter to the Indian High Commission proposing that his wife be allowed to come visit her husband. Pakistan made the proposal on humanitarian grounds, according to the Foreign Office. The letter mentioned that Jadhav’s wife would be granted a visa and the meeting will occur in Pakistan.

India has requested Pakistan to allow Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav, held by Pakistan’s security agencies, to meet his mother along with his wife. India’s request has come in response to an earlier offer made by Pakistan to allow the spy to only meet his wife. On April 10, Pakistan had sentenced the Indian agent to death for carrying out espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and Sindh provinces.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal shared a tweet, saying, “Indian reply to Pakistan’s humanitarian offer for Commander Jadhav received and is being considered.” It is important to mention here that Jadhav’s mother had already applied for a Pakistani visa with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, in anticipation of meeting her convicted son.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed the death sentence awarded by the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA). According to an ISPR press release, Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a counter-intelligence operation from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistan.

Jadhav, an on-duty officer for the Indian Navy, confessed to his crimes in a recorded video statement televised by the ISPR last year following his arrest. In a reaction to the move, Pakistan’s relations with neighbor state tensed, and India approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hear the case.

On May 18, ICJ ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of the Indian agent until a final decision in the proceedings. “Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposal to ensure that Jadhav was not executed, pending the final decision in these proceedings,” ordered Judge Ronny Abraham, president of the court, as he announced the decision.

The ICJ rejected Pakistan’s stance and stated that the court had jurisdiction and would hear the case and seek arguments from both parties. On Sept13, India had submitted its reply to the ICJ pertaining to the case of the convicted Indian spy, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Pakistan will submit its counter-pleadings in the case on December 13.