Pakistan on Sunday again rejected India’s request for consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian naval officer who was sentenced to death for espionage and terrorism by a Pakistani military court in April this year.
His mercy petition is pending with Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. India denied the charges made out against Jadhav, and moved the International Court of Justice against the conviction and got a stay on the execution. Pakistan insists that the reprieve is temporary.
Pakistan has turned down at least five Indian requests for consular access to Jadhav since his arrest in Balochistan province last year. India’s External Affairs Ministry on Saturday again requested for consular access to Jadhav when both countries exchanged lists of prisoners under a 2008 agreement.
In response to yet another Indian request, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakariya said India’s attempt to equate the Jadhav case with those of civilian prisoners and fishermen was a travesty of logic. “Jadhav is a serving Indian naval officer and sent to Pakistan by the RAW for espionage, terrorism and subversive activities that resulted in the loss of many innocent lives and damage to property,” he said in a statement in Islamabad.
‘Deliberate delay’
He said Pakistan ensured effective implementation of the consular access agreement with India. But he blamed India for deliberately delaying release of civilian Pakistani prisoners
“Five Indian prisoners who completed their sentences were repatriated on June 22. In contrast, 20 Pakistani civilian prisoners who have completed their sentences still await their repatriation, while consular access to 107 Pakistani fishermen and 85 Pakistani civilians is till now pending,” the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman said.
The spokesman also blamed India for delaying the release of juvenile Pakistani prisoners Babar Ali and Ali Raza for almost a year despite their release by Indian courts. He said Pakistan implemented the 2008 agreement in letter and in spirit and expected India to follow suit.
‘Impossible’ conditions
He also alleged that India set “impossible” conditions for medical visas for Pakistani patients.
“Under the directives of the Prime Minister, arrangements are being made for treatment and operations to be carried out in Pakistan.”
