Pakistan bows to the international court and grants Kulbhushan Jadhav consular access

• Pakistan has agreed to provide consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav after the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
• Yesterday, India had asked Pakistan for Jadhav’s immediate return, after the verdict in Kulbhushan Jadhav case was delivered.
• Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, while speaking in the Parliament yesterday had said that the government will put all efforts to bring Jadhav back to India.
• The ICJ in its verdict had announced that its Pakistan’s obligation to inform Jadhav his rights and allow India to provide counselor access to him.

Pakistan has agreed to grant consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav, in accordance with the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Foreign Office told IANS sources.

In a late night statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office said it has informed Jadhav of his rights to consular access under the Vienna Convention.

"As a responsible state, Pakistan will grant consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav according to Pakistani laws, for which modalities are being worked out," it said.

After the final verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case yesterday, India had asked Pakistan to immediately release him and vowed to bring the retired Navy officer back.

The day before, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had in its final verdict directed Pakistan to suspend the death penalty on Jadhav given in 2017 for charges of sabotage and espionage. He will also be provided consular access which was denied by Pakistan.

“Pakistan was found to have deprived India of the right to communicate with Jadhav, have access to him, visit him in detention, and arrange his legal representation,” S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs (MEA), said speaking at both the houses of Parliament.

Jadhav, the 47-year old retired Indian Navy officer was apprehended by Pakistan security forces in Balochistan province of Pakistan. He was charged with espionage, three years back. In April 2017, he was sentenced to death on charges of espionage and terrorism.

“Kulbhushan Jadhav is innocent of the charges made against him. His forced confession, without legal representation and due process will not change this reality,” Jaishankar further said.

“We once again call Pakistan to release and repatriate him forthwith,” the minister said.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had yesterday unanimously delivered the judgement that Jadhav must be given judicial representation, by a vote of 15-1.

With inputs from IANS