A Naval officer who is in Pakistan prison might get some visitors who will be well protected by officials. Here are the details of the report.
India wants security guarantees from the Pakistan government for Kulbhushan Jadhav’s wife before she goes there to meet him. Jadhav, a former Naval officer, has been in a Pakistan jail on death row on espionage charges, which India has contested.
Responding to Pakistan’s sudden offer of access to Jadhav’s wife, made last week, India has set some riders. The conditions are intended to ensure his family’s safety as well as guard against “dirty tricks” India expects Pakistan to play when the family is there. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “We have conveyed that the wife of Mr Jadhav would like to travel along with her mother-in-law for the meeting. We have sought sovereign guarantee from the government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well-being of the wife and the mother of Mr. Jadhav and that they shall not be questioned, harassed or interrogated during their stay in Pakistan. We have further asked that a diplomat of the Indian high commission in Islamabad be allowed to accompany them at all times, including during the meeting.”
The Indian response, like the Pakistani offer, was made as a note verbale, to the Pakistan high commission here and the foreign ministry in Islamabad. Pakistan’s foreign ministry had on Saturday confirmed receiving the response and said it was “being considered”.
Jadhav’s mother Avantika had applied for a visa to see him, an application Pakistan has not yet acted upon. Instead, Pakistan offered access to his wife. Pakistan’s offer comes as the International Court of Justice judgment on the Indian case is around the corner. The world court has given Pakistan until December 13 to submit final documents in the case.
India was wary of Pakistan’s offer, particularly since Jadhav’s mother’s application has not found a favorable response. In addition, Pakistan’s harassment of two Indian clerics influenced the Indian demand for a sovereign guarantee on the safety of Jadhav’s family. The MEA spokesperson also used the opportunity to state that Pakistan was not off the hook. “Such an offer does not absolve Pakistan of the violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Human Rights and not following due process in treating Mr. Jadhav.” He added that there would be no let-up of India’s campaign to free Jadhav.
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