International Court of Justice has rejected India's plea for the release of its convicted spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Announcing the verdict at The Hague in Netherlands this evening, President of the International Court of Justice Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said Indian spy can remain in the captivity of Pakistan but he should be allowed consular access.
The ICJ also rejected the Indian request for annulment of the military court decision convicting Jadhav, his release and return to India.
Jadhav, a serving commander of the Indian Navy associated with Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing, was arrested on March 3, 2016, from Balochistan on allegations of espionage and terrorism.
In his subsequent trial at a military court, Jadhav had confessed to his involvement in terrorist plots. The spy was sentenced to death in 2017. In June 2017, the Indian spy had filed a mercy petition against the death penalty, in which he again confessed to his involvement in terrorist activities.
However, International Court of Justice, after being approached by India, had ordered a stay in his execution through an interim order.
During the hearing of the case in the international court, Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan had argued that Jadhav was an Indian spy sent to Balochistan to destabilise the country.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office has said that the International Court of Justice in its judgment decided not to acquit or release Indian serving Naval Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav thus not accepting Indian pray.
In a statement today, spokesperson of Foreign Office Dr Faisal said that Pakistan, as a responsible member of the International community, upheld its commitment from the very beginning of the case by appearing before the Honourable court for the provisional measures hearing despite a very short notice.
He said having heard the judgment, Pakistan will now proceed as per law.
FO spokesperson said it is reiterated that Indian Naval Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav entered Pakistan without a visa on authentic Indian Passport with a fake alias Hussain Mubarak Patel.
He said Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav is responsible for acts of sabotage, espionage and multiple terrorist incidents in which scores of innocent Pakistani citizens were killed resulting into umpteen women being widowed and numerous children becoming orphans.
Dr Faisal said Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav has confessed all these acts during his trial in Pakistani court in front of a Judicial Magistrate. He said this is a clear case of Indian state terrorism.
Later, the Attorney General of Pakistan has said the International Court of Justice has made it clear that Kulbhushan Jadhav will not be released.
He made these remarks while talking to media at Hague in Netherlands tonight.
He said the decision by the International Court of Justice is victory of Pakistan's stance.