Mother to accompany Jadhav''s wife: India’s condition to Pak offer

Smita Sharma 

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 23

India has asked Pakistan to allow Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother Avantika to accompany his wife for a meeting proposed by Islamabad.

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A former navy officer, Jadhav has been lodged in a Pakistani jail on serious charges of espionage and sentenced to death without having been granted any consular access despite official requests since March last year.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar today elaborated upon the conditions put forth by India in its response to the Pakistani note verbale offering a meeting between Jadhav and his wife.

Talking about India’s ‘positive response’, Raveesh Kumar said, “We have also sought sovereign guarantee from the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of the wife and the mother of Jadhav and that they shall not be questioned, harassed or interrogated during their visit and stay in Pakistan. We have further asked that a diplomat of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad shall be allowed to accompany them at all times, including during the meeting.”

On November 10, the Pakistan foreign office through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad announced, “The Government of Pakistan has decided to arrange a meeting of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav with his wife, in Pakistan, purely on humanitarian grounds.”

Pakistan Foreign Office confirmed last week it is considering India’s request. Sources suggest the development is being viewed in a positive light and the modalities for the process are under discussion.

Meanwhile, hoping that Islamabad would facilitate the meeting, New Delhi also reiterated the intent to “pursue all measures with full vigour so as to secure the final release of an innocent Indian”.

“Let me underline that such a meeting offer does not absolve Pakistan of the violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Human Rights and not following the due process in treating Jadhav who remains incarcerated in Pakistan and faces death sentence through a farcical process and on concocted charges,” underlined Raveesh Kumar.

India took Jadhav’s case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, which in May this year ordered a stay on the pending death execution till completion of hearing. Pakistan has to submit its response on the case to the ICJ by December 13.

Jadhav’s mercy plea is currently with the Army Chief and according to sources will also go the Supreme Court before reaching the Pakistan President’s office for a final decision.