ISLAMABAD – Pakisatan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has responded back to
the allegations levelled by the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj in the Indian Parliament.
He said that the visitors were treated with dignity and respect, in line
with Islamic teachings.
Jadhav met his mother and wife in Islamabad on Monday, their first meeting
since his arrest from Balochistan last year on charges of espionage and
terrorism.
Speaking in Indian parliament on Thursday, Swaraj accused Pakistan of
disrespecting cultural sensitivities, saying Jadhav’s mother was forced to
change her dress — from the sari to shalwar kameez.
Pakistani officials, she added, did not let the mother and son talk in
their mother tongue Marathi, even though it was ‘their first meeting in 22
months’.
She alleged that confessions made by the convict were made under duress.
In response, Asif, in a statement said Pakistan’s humanitarian gesture does
not do away with the fact that this was not an ordinary meeting.
“The reality remains that Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav is a serving Indian
Naval Officer and a convicted Indian terrorist and spy responsible for
multiple deaths and destruction in Pakistan,” the communiqué read. “A
comprehensive security check was therefore essential.”
He said the change of clothes and removal of jewellery was purely for
security reasons and terming it a deliberate act to disrespect religious
and cultural sensitivities was “regrettable”.
“The visitors changed into their own clothes after the meeting. All their
belongings were returned to them before they left. The wife’s shoes were
retained as they did not clear the security check. A metal chip has been
found in one of the shoes, which is being analysed,” the statement said.
The foreign minister elaborated that many routine airport security checks
for ordinary people entail removal of crosses and veils. “It is unfortunate
that the frenzied Indian media is driving Indian politics.”
Reiterating that Pakistan had been open and transparent throughout the
meeting, Asif advised India to focus on the fact that the meeting happened
despite “immense challenges and impediments, instead of distortion of facts
and baseless propaganda”… “this needs to be acknowledged”.
Jadhav had confessed to spying for Indian intelligence, with Islamabad
describing him as “the face of Indian terrorism” in the country.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death on charges of espionage and
terrorism.