Kulbhushan Jadhav row: Pakistan allows mother, wife to meet him on Dec 25
Islamabad, December 8: Pakistan on Friday said that it would allow the imprisoned former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his mother and wife in jail on December 25.
Pakistan recently granted permission to Jadhav to meet his wife, months after a request was made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. However, Pakistan’s foreign ministry later confirmed that India had also requested to send Jadhav’s mother along with his wife.
Dr Muhammad Faisal continued that complete security would be provided to Jadhav’s wife and mother during their stay in Pakistan.
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday confirmed that Pakistan would grant visa to both mother and wife of Kulbhusan Jadhav, an Indian spy convicted on terrorism charges.
In a series of tweets, the minister said she has informed Mrs Avantika Jadhav, mother of Jadhav, about Pakistani government’s decision.
“Earlier Pakistan had agreed to give visa only to the wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav. On this we asked Pakistan to give visa to the mother as well. We also raised concern about their safety and security in Pakistan,” she said in a tweet.
After Pakistani Military tribunal sentenced him to death on false charges of espionage and terrorism, India approached the International Court of Justice in May and secured a stay. A mercy petition was filed by Jadhav before Pakistan Army chief General on June 22.
India has been trying to arrange a meeting of Jadhav with his family but Pakistan had not accepted visa applications so far. India has moved to have consular access to Jadhav as per UN conventions more than 15 times, but Pakistan had rejected all such proposals.
Pakistan falsely claimed its security forces arrested Jadhav from Balochistan on March 3 last year. However, the truth is that he was abducted from Iran where he had gone on a business trip.
“Kalbushan Jhadev alias, Hussain Mubarak Patel, a serving Commander of the Indian Navy, working with Indian Intelligence Agency/RAW was apprehended by Pakistan law enforcement agencies on March 3, 2016 after he illegally crossed over into Pakistan. He confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by RAW to plan, coordinate and organize espionage, terrorist and sabotage activities aimed at destabilizing and waging war against Pakistan,” Pakistan claims.
India has clarified that Kulbhushan Jadhav is a kidnapped retired officer of the Indian navy in Pakistani custody. India will consider it as a premeditated murder if Pakistan kills him. He also said that Pak has no evidence against him.