Minister of State for External Affairs General V. K. Singh on Monday said that India would ensure the interests as well as lives of its citizens were protected anywhere in the world.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a seminar on investment opportunities in the Democratic Republic of Congo held in Mumbai, General Singh said the nation was quite clear on its stand that the allegations against former Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav were baseless.
‘Can’t be clearer’
“Pakistan’s thinking that he is a spy is false. No spy ever goes around with his passport. India has very clearly said we would treat his execution as an act of premeditated murder. We cannot be any clearer than this,” the former Army chief said. “India wants to protect him and we will take all actions that are necessary to safeguard our nationals anywhere in the world.”
Mr. Jadhav, 46, was recently awarded the death sentence by a Pakistani military court on charges of alleged espionage and sabotage activities. India has demanded from Pakistan a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgement in Mr. Jadhav’s death sentence, and also sought consular access to him.
Referring to the US bombing on an Islamic State (IS) complex in Afghanistan, General Singh said, “They [the US] have taken action against a terrorist organisation, which they have already been doing. The fight against terrorism is a fight for all of us.”
