Consular access to Jadhav

Pakistan has granted Indian consular access to convicted spy Kulbhushan Jadhav twice with a couple of days this week. Despite these gestures, Indian has claimed that the environment for the meeting was not conducive and they were intimidated by foreign office officials.

Pakistan has gone beyond in granting consular access to Jadhav, yet Indian diplomats walked out without even hearing him. As a goodwill gesture, Pakistan offered another meeting with the convicted spy and accepted to all demands such as removing the glass partition and having no recordings. 

Consular access is merely giving unhindered access to a national in another country. Pakistan has fulfilled its responsibility and Indian needs to stop baseless accusations. The case has been ongoing the ICJ and Pakistan needs to fulfill legal formalities.

Jadhav was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to death for espionage and terrorism. His mercy petition has been pending before the army chief. He has reportedly refused to file a review petition even though Pakistan wanted him to available the option.

The government’s decision to gather consular access to Jadhav thrice has raised eyebrows and the opposition has opposed extending facilities to a convicted spy. It has been reported that the government issued an ordinance in May, allowing India consular access and an option to file a review or appeal.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari slammed the government for secretly passing an ordinance, rather than a bill in parliament, to give relief to the Indian spy. The opposition claims to be unaware of the ordinance, stating it was unconstitutional and not acceptable to the people. He said if the ordinance was intended to provide relief to Jadhav, it is a foreign policy failure of the government.

The ordinance was promulgated on May 20 allowing two months to file an appeal in court. This ordinance will expire on July 19 and it seems India will be unable to avail the option after Jadhav’s refusal. India is facing failures on the global front and is unable to gain much with a radical mindset.

Pakistan has fulfilled its responsibility and India has no ground to criticize that access was impeded. Neither does India intend to help him, rather it has been using intimidation and other tactics just to defame Pakistan at the international level.