India cries foul as Pakistan set to execute ‘spy’
Pakistan will execute an Indian who allegedly confessed to spying for Indian intelligence, the powerful military said on Monday in a move that quickly raised tensions between the nucleararmed neighbours.
The man, named by the army as Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav, was found guilty by a military court which was closed to the public and was sentenced to death. “Today, (army chief) Gen Qamer Javed Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence,” a military statement said, without stating when the execution would take place.
New Delhi slammed the decision. “If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder,” the foreign ministry said.
islamabad — In a rare move, a military court on Monday handed Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav the death sentence after trial for involvement in espionage and sabotage activities in Karachi and Balochistan, reports Dawn online.
Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016 through a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan’s Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said.
“The spy was tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded the death sentence. Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM,” the ISPR said. The accused had been provided with a defending officer as per legal provisions, the ISPR said.
Experts view the military’s announcement about Jadhav’s trial and prosecution as an unprecedented move, viewing it as a strong message to India as well as other foreign intelligencies.
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti speaking to DawnNews said he believes the decision is a good one. “There are foreign elements involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan,” he claimed. “I believe this is a good decision.”
Defence analyst Ikram Sehgal agreed with Bugti’s view, saying, “What happened today was correct. He (Jadhav) confessed his crime, he had people killed... After due process, his punishment should be carried out. They (India) will deny that he was not a spy, but he accepted that he was a spy. He gave full details in his confession of his networks as well.” “Pakistan has sent a message that if somebody
There are foreign elements involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan. i believe this is a good decision. Sarfaraz Bugti , Balochistan Home Minister
does such activities here, it will hand them severe punishment. Those operating against the state will face a similar fate,” Sehgal added.
Indian journalist Suhasini Haidar raised the question of how the sentencing may affect Pak-India ties. “With India-Pakistan relations at their lowest, wonder if diplomacy can work. Even US-Russia were able to conduct spy swaps during cold war,” she said.
Jadhav confessed before a magistrate and court that he was tasked by Indian spy agency Research and Analysis wing to plan, coordinate and organise espionage and sabotage activities seeking to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan through impeding the efforts of law enforcement agencies.