India says will ‘go to any lengths’ to get Jadhav justice
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: India on Thursday said it had no knowledge of the location or health condition of Kulbhushan Jadhav but vowed to “go to any extent” to ensure justice for the former navy officer sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court.
The assertion by home minister Rajnath Singh also coincided with the Pakistani army saying it will not compromise on the death sentence awarded to 46-year-old Jadhav, accused of spying and fuelling sectarian unrest in Balochistan.
“We will go to any extent to ensure justice to Kulbhushan Jadhav,” Singh said on the sidelines of a CISF event in Delhi.
He said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had already made the country’s stand clear in this regard and that whatever he had said in Parliament a few days back remains unchanged.
In forceful speeches in both houses of Parliament, Swaraj had said that if the sentence is carried out, India will consider it “an act of premeditated murder” and also warned Pakistan of consequences “for our bilateral relationship”.
However, India has admitted that its efforts to help Jadhav has been stymied due to Pakistan’s refusal to access to him.
“Pakistan has not shared with us till now any details of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s location or how he is,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
“All our requests for consular access have been denied. The so-called legal process done by Pakistan was opaque,” he said.
The MEA spokesperson said the neighbouring country had once said it would give consular access provided India investigate the charges against him.
Pakistan has turned down 13 requests for consular access to Jadhav, who India maintains is an “innocent Indian, kidnapped by Pakistan: “That itself (the precondition) is a proof that they didn’t have enough evidence.”
Baglay said India was engaged in efforts to bring back Jadhav, adding he would not like to speculate on the steps being taken.
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s military said no compromise will be made.
Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was briefed about the case’s progress at the 201st conference of the corps commanders at the general headquarters, the media arm of the Pakistan Army said.
PAKISTAN HAS TURNED DOWN 13 REQUESTS FOR CONSULAR ACCESS TO JADHAV