Pakistan Allows Visit of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s Mother, Wife in Jail

Pakistan has allowed the mother and wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian man on death row, to visit him on Dec. 25. An official from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will also be allowed to be present at the meeting, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal said on Dec. 8.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had sought a sovereign guarantee from Pakistan on the safety and security of Jadhav’s wife and her mother-in-law if they visit, which Pakistan said it would ensure. The ministry also said that the two women should not be questioned or harassed, and that the Pakistan government would have to allow an Indian diplomat to accompany Jadhav’s family.

A diplomat from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad will be allowed to accompany the women and they will be given security.

Pakistan govt has assured safety of mother and wife of #KulbhushanJadhav during their stay in #Pakistan: MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar at media briefing in Delhi pic.twitter.com/O0mwEKGpuI

— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) December 8, 2017

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had written a “personal letter” to Sartaj Aziz, the advisor to Pakistan’s prime minister, to request approval of visa application of Jadhav’s mother.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman termed it a “good humanitarian gesture” from Pakistan while Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Pakistan’s decision was a reflection of the efficacy of the Indian diplomatic outreach and its acceptance around the world.

Jadhav was sentenced to death this April over allegations of being an Indian spy and being involved in terror attacks. India has denied these claims made by Pakistan. Jadhav is a former Indian Navy personnel who said that he was a businessman when he was arrested in Pakistan in March 2016.

India approached the International Court of Justice to halt his execution, following which a 10-member bench heard the case on May 18 and restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till adjudication of the case. The International Court of Justice told Pakistan to submit its response by Dec. 13 before furthering court proceedings.

Until now, India has had no consular access to Jadhav, which Pakistan said was not allowed in case of spies. Raveesh Kumar, the official spokesperson of the MEA, said that it is not known how much access the accompanying diplomat would have.

#KulbhushanJadhav
Q: Since an Indian diplomat would be accompanying Jadhav’s mother and wife, are you considering it as Pakistan granting consular access?@meaindia: pic.twitter.com/OZ3pH2YGXK

— Devirupa Mitra (@DevirupaM) December 8, 2017