Pakistan Says Consular Access To Kulbhushan Jadhav Granted, India Downplays Claim
The decision to allow Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet his family was taken on “humanitarian grounds”.
Pakistan has granted India consular access to Indian death row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav by allowing the presence of an Indian diplomat during the meeting with his family, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told a Pakistani media channel.
In India, officials downplayed the comments by the Pakistani minister, maintaining that the Indian diplomat was only accompanying Jadhav's family and it cannot be construed as “consular access”.
Asif, however, said Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh accompanying Jadhav's wife and mother could be considered “consular access”. Asked specifically if it constituted consular access as an Indian official would be present in the meeting, Asif said, “Yes”.
“Had India been in place of us, it would not have given us this concession,” he told Geo News. Asif also said the decision on the mercy appeal would be taken keeping in view the interests of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Foreign Office has not officially confirmed if Singh's presence in the meeting would be treated equivalent to providing consular access which India has been demanding.
It was also not clear if Singh would be allowed to interact with Jadhav during the meeting with his family or he would be just be a silent participant.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said more than once that the decision to allow Jadhav to meet his family was taken on “humanitarian grounds”. He made no reference to “consular access”.
Jadhav’s Family Arrives in Pakistan
Jadhav's wife and mother today arrived in Islamabad for a meeting with him at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, according to Pakistani media.
The two women arrived in the capital via a commercial flight and are expected to leave today after the meeting takes place. They are accompanied by Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, Dawn News reported.
Officials said all arrangements are in place for the meeting between Jadhav and his wife and mother. Sharpshooters were deployed at the sprawling the building ahead of the meeting.
In addition to the Indian envoy, a couple of Foreign Office officials will also be present during the meeting, which could last from 15 minutes to one hour, according to foreign office sources.
Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April, following which India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in May. The ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it.
Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel from its restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran.
India, however, maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.