HOW THE JADHAV SAGA UNFOLDED
The death sentence is likely to deteriorate the already strained India-Pakistan bilateral ties
March 3, 2016 : Pakistan claims to have arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, from the Balochistan province March 25, 2016: Islamabad releases Jadhav’s ‘confessional’ video statement and accuses him of being a RAW officer, who was assigned the task of conducting covert subversive acts in Pakistan by supporting Baloch rebels. Same day, New Delhi acknowledges the arrest of an Indian national. March 26, 2016: MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup releases a statement rubbishing Pakistani claims. States that while Jadhav was a naval officer, he had no links to the RAW or the government. Denies Jadhav was backing Baloch insurgents at RAW’s behest. March 30, 2016: Union minister Kiren Rijiju rubbishes Pakistan’s claims, says Jadhav’s confession about his “involvement” in terror activities in Balochistan is a lie. Indian authorities claim Jadhav was abducted from Iran where he was conducting business. April, 2016: India starts sending diplomatic communications to Pakistan for consular access to alleged spy, Jadhav. Authorities claim access denied. December 7: Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs, reportedly says in the senate that they have no conclusive evidence against Jadhav.
April 10 ,2017: Pakistan announces that Jadhav has been sentenced to death for espionage and waging war against the country.