PAK WILL REVIEW ICJ RULING ON CONDEMNED ‘SPY’

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: India obtained late on Tuesday a stay from the International Court of Justice on the execution of former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav whom a Pakistani military court had convicted of espionage — a development that could further test strained ties between the neighbours.

This is the first time in 46 years that India moved The Haguebased ICJ, the UN’s judicial arm, as Jadhav’s life is in great danger.

New Delhi says the 46-year-old seaman-turned-businessman was kidnapped and framed by Pakistan, and was denied consular access even after 16 requests.

“Jadhav is under illegal detention in Pakistan and his life is under threat,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, explaining India’s decision to file an appeal in the ICJ.

He said the decision was taken after careful deliberation.

New Delhi’s move and the international court’s ruling surprised Pakistan as prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said the government is reviewing India’s application and the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the case.

“A decision in this regard will be issued accordingly,” he said.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, hailed for being instrumental in moving the international court, wrote to Aziz on April 27 with a request for visa to Jadhav’s family to meet him in Pakistan. This was in addition to requests for consular access. Pakistan didn’t respond.

Defence minister Khawaja Asif accused India of using Jadhav’s death sentence to divert attention from its state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.

Islamabad accuses India of fomenting trouble in its restive Balochistan province; a charge New Delhi denies.

Jadhav was allegedly arrested in Balochistan in March 2016. Pakistan said Jadhav worked for his country’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). A military court sentenced him to death on April 10 on charges of espionage and waging war against Islamabad.