ISLAMABAD – India on Thursday demanded that Pakistan release an alleged spyafter the International Court of Justice called for a review of a deathsentence against him.
The arch-rivals each declared victory after the world court ruling madelate Wednesday. But with 49-year-old Kulbhushan Jadhav still held insecret, his case risked setting off new tensions between the nuclear-armedneighbours.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Jadhav, a former navyofficer, “is in the illegal custody of Pakistan under fabricated charges”as he welcomed the court ruling.
“Yesterday’s judgement is not only a vindication of India and Mr Jadhav butfor all those who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity ofinternational conventions,” the minister added.
Jaishankar insisted that Jadhav “is innocent of the charges levelledagainst him” and had been forced to confess without access to a lawyer.
“We once again call upon Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith.”
The ICJ said Pakistan must give India consular access to the prisoner, giveJadhav proper representation and review the death sentence. But it rejectedIndia’s demand that Jadhav be freed.
– Modi-Khan Twitter battle –
Pakistan said Jadhav was detained in its southwestern province ofBaluchistan in March 2016.
It released a “confession” video in which Jadhav said he worked for Indianintelligence. A military court sentenced him to death in 2017.
According to Indian officials, Jadhav retired from the navy in 2001 and wasrunning a “logistics” business in the Iranian port of Chabahar.
India insisted he was taken captive in Iran before being moved to Pakistanand then forced to confess.
It started an ICJ case in 2017. Throughout the hearings, Jadhav has beenkept under strict lock and key in Pakistan.
Apart the video in which he said he graduated from India’s premier defenceacademy and began to help Indian intelligence in 2001, the only sighting ofJadhav was when his mother and wife saw him for 40 minutes on December 25,2017.
Read Top Stories
Indian officials say relatives reported that he appeared to have beentortured.
Relations between the neighbours frequently boil over. They have foughtthree wars since independence in 1947 and staged air battles on theirborder in February.
New Delhi frequently says there can be no improvement in relations untilits neighbour takes action to rein in militant attacks in India.
Keeping up the rivalry, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said lateWednesday that “truth and justice have prevailed” with the ruling.
His Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan hit back through his Twitter account.
“Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release and return CommanderKulbhushan Jadhav to India,” Khan said.
“He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shallproceed further as per law,” Khan added.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the incident is a “clear case of Indianstate terrorism”.
Media in the two countries also claimed victory in the case.
“India Wins in World Court,” said a Mail Today headline. “Justice inInternational Court,” declared The Indian Express.
“Pakistan vindicated” ran a banner front-page headline in Pakistan’sExpress Tribune. -APP/AFP
