agencies
Islamabad, Dec 8: Pakistan Friday said it will allow the wife and the mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet him December 25. Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer, was arrested by Pakistan from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last March. He was charged with espionage and sentenced to death by a court martial in Pakistan. India appealed against the decision before the International Court of Justice, which halted the sentence against the 47-year-old in May.
Jadhav’s mother, Avantika, had sought visa to meet him on humanitarian grounds, based on which she and Jadhav’s wife have now been allowed to visit him December 25.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said they “have conveyed the decision to India”. Faisal added that a staff member from the Indian High Commission will be present during the meeting and that Jadhav’s family will be provided security during their stay in Pakistan.
Pakistan had November 10 agreed to allow Jadhav’s wife to meet him. India had been pressing Pakistan to grant visa to Avantika.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had recently discussed Jadhav’s case with Pakistani High Commissioner to New Delhi Sohail Mahmood.
She tweeted Friday: “Government of Pakistan has conveyed that they will give visa to the mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav.” She also said she had spoken to Avantika and “informed her about this”.
Pakistan has repeatedly denied India consular access to Jadhav on the grounds that it was not applicable in cases related to espionage.
Jadhav had also filed a clemency plea with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which is still under consideration.
In October, the Pakistani army had said it was close to a decision on the mercy petition of Jadhav. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested him from restive Balochistan province March 3 last after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.
Jadhav’s sentencing had evoked sharp reactions in India. After India approached the International Court of Justice, a 10-member bench May 18 restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case. The ICJ has asked Pakistan to submit its response or memorial by December 13 before the court could start further proceedings in the case.
FALL GUY
March 3, 2016: Kulbhushan Jadhav was arrested reportedly from the Chaman area of Balochistan on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan alleged that he was a serving Indian naval officer; he was accused of working for India’s Research and Analysis Wing; Pakistan produced a passport (No. L9630722), purportedly belonging to him; the passport bore the name ‘Hussein Mubarak Patel’, born in Sangli, Maharashtra, and living in Powai. He was also said to have possessed a valid Iranian visa in his name. India denied his having links with the government
April 10, 2017: Pakistani Court Martial sentences Jadhav to death; Observers and intelligence sources question legality of the sentence. India protests by holding release of 12 Pakistan prisoners
April 18: Pakistan Army refuses consular access to Jadhav
April 26: Jadhav’s mother appeals to Pakistan federal government to intervene and get Jadhav released; India again seeks consular access
April 27: India wants Pakistan for certificate on Jadhav’s health
May 10: International Court of Justice stays Jadhav’s execution; then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif discusses matter with his army chief Javed Bajwa; doubts arise over the ability of ICJ to enforce its order in the case
May 18: International Court of Justice effectively stays execution Jadhav and states India should have been granted consular access to Jadhav under Vienna Convention. Pakistan sticks to stand, says ICJ Ruling doesn’t change status of Jadhav case
June 22: Pakistan military announces Jadhav has filed mercy plea before Pak army chief
July 02: Pakistan denies consular access to India for the sixth time
July 13: Pakistan says it was studying a visa application of Jadhav’s mother to meet him
November 10, Pakistan agrees to allow Jadhav’s wife to meet him
December 8: Pakistan allows Jadhav’s wife, mother to meet him December 25