Jadhav-family meeting: India summons its high commissioner in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has summoned Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to hold consultations over the meeting of spy Kulbhushan Jadhav with family.

Bisaria is expected to leave Islamabad for New Delhi today.

India has claimed that Jadhav’s family was harassed while they were visiting him in Pakistan.

Swaraj alleged that the visit was used by Pakistan for propaganda purposes, however, Pakistan has denied India’s allegations, saying that a comprehensive security check was necessary, which was earlier agreed upon by both the sides through diplomatic channels.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif had said the visitors were treated with dignity and respect, adding that the change of clothes and removal of jewelry were entirely for security reasons.

“The visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting. All their belongings were returned to them before they left. The wife’s shoes were retained as they did not clear the security check. A metal chip has been found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed,” the statement had said.

On 25th, Kulbhushan Jadhav’s wife and mother had met the Indian spy, who is on death row, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after arriving in Islamabad.

Pakistan had issued visas to Jadhav’s wife and mother on humanitarian grounds and the meeting between the convicted spy and his family lasted for 40 minutes.

Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was arrested in Pakistan on espionage charges.

He was captured by security forces on March 3, 2016, in Balochistan and sentenced to death by a military tribunal earlier this year for his involvement in terrorism and espionage.

His appeals against the conviction have been rejected by the military appellate court and his mercy petition has been lying with Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

India has challenged Pakistan’s refusal to grant consular access to the spy in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ is hearing the case and has restrained the Pakistan government from executing Jadhav until it decides the case.