Even as it prepares to appeal for Kulbhushan Jadhav, awarded death sentence by Pakistan Army’s Court Martial, the Indian Government is still awaiting a response from the Pakistan Government on its demand for a certified copy of the chargesheet as well as the military court order awarding death sentence to the retired Indian Navy officer.
“We have sought from the Foreign Ministry (of Pakistan) a certified copy of the charge-sheet as well as the judgment in the death sentence of Jadhav, but there is no response yet from Pakistan’s side,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on Sunday.
The death sentence to 46-year-old former Indian Navy officer Jadhav was confirmed by Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa after the Field General Court Martial found him ‘guilty’ of ‘espionage and sabotage activities’ in Pakistan. The Pakistani Government has claimed Jadhav has 60 days to appeal against the verdict.
The Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam Bambawale, had met Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Friday in connection with the case and demanded a certified copy of the chargesheet and a copy of the judgment. The Indian Government has also sought consular access to Jadhav for the 14th time.
“India made the demand for the two documents on Friday when the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad met the Pakistan Foreign Secretary,” said Baglay.
Pakistan claims its security forces had arrested Jadhav from Balochistan on March 3 last year after he reportedly entered from Iran. It also claimed that he was a serving officer in the Indian Navy. The Pakistan Army had also released a ‘confessional video’ of Jadhav after his arrest.
However, while accepting Jadhav as an Indian national who retired from India Navy, the Indian Government has insisted that he was a businessman who was kidnapped from Iran by Taliban and sold off to Pak authorities. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had warned that Jadhav’s execution would be taken by India as a pre-meditated murder and Pakistan should consider its consequences on bilateral relations, if it proceeds on this matter.
Meanwhile, media reports from Islamabad claimed that Pakistan has prepared a new dossier about alleged militant activities of Jadhav to be shared with the United Nations and the foreign envoys stationed in Islamabad. Reports added the new dossier is based on Jadhav’s early testimonial and statements given in front of the Field General Court Martial about his alleged involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan. The documents will also contain details of arrests and raids done by Pakistan security agencies on Jadhav’s tip-offs.