ISLAMABAD – The mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian spy sentenced to death for espionage in Pakistan, on Monday held a meeting with the spy at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after Pakistani government accepted India’s request.
The women – Avanti Jadhav (mother) and Chetankul Jadhav (wife) – landed at the Islamabad airport earlier today from where they were brought to office of Indian High Commission. After a brief stay, the mother and wife went to Foreign Office amid tight security.
The meeting, which started at 2:18pm, was arranged in a room, divided with a glass barrier, lasted around 40 minutes. Indian Deputy High Commission JP Singh was also present. Dr Fareeha, Director India desk at Foreign Office also observed the meeting from Pakistan’s side.
Jadhav’s mother Avanti Jadhav and wife Chetankul Jadhav underwent a security check before the meeting.
After the meeting, the Indian spy’s mother thanked Pakistan’s foreign office for arranging the meeting with her son.
The two women and Indian diplomatic official went to the Indian High Commission from where they will go to airport. Media report suggest they would go to Muscat via Oman Airlines from where they will go to New Delhi
In the pictures, the Indian spy can be seen in new tailored suit with a fresh look.
https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/945231711171960832
https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/945212487137480704
Roads leading to Foreign Office have been closed for traffic. Pakistan Rangers, anti-terrorism squads and sharp shooters deployed at rooftops around the FO to ensure security.
Humanitarian Gesture
In a tweet, FO Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said: “Pakistan permits the meeting of wife and mother of Commander Jadhav with him, as a humanitarian gesture, on the birthday of the Father of the nation, Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”.
https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/945182829188657157
No Consular Access
FO said that the convicted Indian spy has not been given consular access. It further clarified that presence of Indian consulate official with Kulbhushan’s family does not mean it’s a ‘consular access’.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/kulbhushan-jadhav-not-given-consular-access-clarifies-pakistan-ahead-of-meeting-with-family/
On Sunday, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif talking to a private news channel said that India had been granted consular access to the convicted spy.
Jadhav, who was captured by Pakistani security forces on March 3, 2016, in Balochistan, was 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.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pakistani-forces-arrest-indian-spy-from-balochistan/
He is a Commander rank serving officer in Indian navy as per his own statement. An Indian passport bearing his assumed name Hussein Mubarak Patel – a fictitious activity to conceal his original identity, had been recovered from his possession.
In his confessional statements released to media, Jadhav disclosed his clandestine mission of espionage leading to sabotage activity in restive province of Balochistan, Karachi and elsewhere in Pakistan.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/information-minister-pervez-rasheed-dg-ispr-gen-asim-bajwa-hold-joint-press-conference/
India, on the other hand, claimed that he was “a retired Naval officer, who had been kidnapped from Iran where he was in connection with his business”.
Jadhav had been tried by a Field General Court Martial, which handed down capital punishment to him. The Indian government hurriedly took the issue to International Court of Justice (ICJ). The latter, on May 18th 2017, passed order staying execution of Jadhav.
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 till it decides the case.
