The ‘spy’ game

India seeks consular access to former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested on charges of spying. Pakistan says still investigating the “leads” provided by the “R&AW spy”

The meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan on Tuesday saw both sides exchange strong views over the arrest of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.

Indian sources said Pakistan seemed pre-determined to harp on the issue to address ‘its domestic audience’ and counter the ‘genuine’ Indian concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil.

Visiting foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry spoke of the ‘arrest’ and ‘capture’ of RAW ‘officer’ Jadhav, as well as the ‘subversive activities’ of the agency in Balochistan and Karachi, speaking at length ‘from Jadhav’s confessions’ to back his claims.

Reacting to the same, the Indian side said Jadhav was in “your (Pakistan’s) custody” and surrounded by “all your men”, arguing it was a confession extracted under duress.

Foreign secretary S Jaishankar said such confessions cannot be taken at face value, adding that Jadhav, a former naval officer, was abducted and taken to Pakistan.

“Pakistan was using words like arrest and capture but we made it clear he was abducted and taken into custody,” Indian sources said.

The foreign secretary said Pakistan should immediately give consular access to Jadhav, but that country was of the opinion that investigations on the ‘leads provided by Jadhav’ are still on.When Pakistan pointed out that acts of ‘subversive nature’ undercut the efforts to normalise ties, Jaishankar asked, “Which spy agency would put their agent in the field with their own passports and without a visa?”

INDIAN SOURCES SAID PAKISTAN SEEMED PRE-DETERMINED TO HARP ON THE ISSUE TO ADDRESS ‘ITS DOMESTIC AUDIENCE’