THE HAGUE: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected India’s objections in the case ofconvicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav in its reply to the InternationalCourt of Justice (ICJ).
The reply was submitted by Foreign Office Director India, Dr Fareha Bugti,the sources said. This was the first reply by Pakistan incounter-pleading,and overall the second in the case so far. Pakistan, inits rejoinder, gave detailed answers to India’s submissions to and rejectedNew Delhi’s objections in the case.
Following Jadhav’s arrest and death sentencing by Pakistan in 2016, Indiahad approached the world court to stop his execution. Dr Bugti had alsosubmitted Pakistan’s counter-pleading in December last. Pakistan’s replywas prepared by a team of experts led by the attorney general.
On April 17 this year, India had submitted its reply to the ICJ after theworld court, on January 23, directed India to do so. India submitted itsarguments to the ICJ on September 13, 2017. The Indian stance was dismissedby Pakistan on December 13 that year. In its counter-memorial, Pakistanstated that Jadhav is not a “civilian” as he entered the country with theintent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities. It said Jadhav was aserving officer of the Indian Navy and therefore does not fall under thepurview of the Vienna Convention.
Commander Jadhav — an on-duty Indian navy officer working for Indian covertagency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — was arrested on March 3, 2016,from Balochistan, after he entered Pakistan from Iran. Jadhav was tried ina military court which sentenced him to death for espionage and subversiveactivities. In a reaction to the move, New Delhi approached the ICJ.
India moved the ICJ seeking six months to file pleadings in the case, whichwas turned down by the ICJ in June this year. On May 18, 2017, the ICJordered Pakistan to stop the execution of Jadhav until a final decision wasmade in the proceedings. “Pakistan shall take all measures at its disposalto ensure that Jadhav is not executed pending the final decision in theseproceedings,” ordered president of the court, Judge Ronny Abraham.