Tensions simmer over verdict

Analysts say relations between nations have tumbled to a new low

Pakistani analysts believe the country’s relations with India have tumbled to a new low after the death sentence handed to Jadhav, an alleged Indian spy and former Indian Navy officer, as New Delhi instantly reacted and halted the release of some Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails.

Talking to Gulf News, political and defence analyst Dr Hassan Askari said the decision would “further escalate tensions between the two countries and deteriorate bilateral relations, which were already going downhill”.

The military had set out a severe punishment in accordance with the law of Pakistan, Askari said, but relations with India would likely further suffer because of the death sentence.

Defence Analyst Retired Lieutenant-General Talat Masoud said the “decision is right by the law and justified in legal terms.”

The country, however, should brace itself for reaction on international forums, Masoud said, suggesting that “Pakistan should be prepared for a spike in Line of Control violations”.

Masoud said Jadhav’s case was evidence of India’s long-time interference and disruption in Pakistan through spies.

“For a long time now Pakistan has struggled to prove India’s involvement in Pakistan’s destabilisation. Our ambassadors have shared this information with the international community with proof but to no avail,” he said.

“Now that we have made our move, which is the right thing to do, we should brace for India’s retaliation.”

Interference

Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said India should not interfere in Pakistan’s decision in a case of state-sponsored espionage.

“The Pakistani government should prepare a white paper for the international community to inform them of the Indian role in a number of terror cases in Pakistan from 1947,” Mir suggested. Pakistan and India have long had tense relations.

High-level talks between the neighbours have been suspended since January last year, when India postponed scheduled meetings on Kashmir and other problem areas, after an attack on an Indian air force base that killed seven soldiers. India says phone intercepts suggest the gunmen came from Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies.

A.S. Dulat, a former Indian spy chief, said in an interview that the news of the death sentence came as a surprise and was a further setback in relations between the two neighbours.

“This is unbelievable ... shocking. This comes out of blue without any knowledge of trial, or evidence of the case and suddenly you hear that man is going to be hanged,” Dulat said by phone.

Dulat said “spies are caught everywhere all the time.” “You ask for a favour. Somebody returns a favour. That’s how it is. You don’t hang people. In normal circumstances, you don’t hang the people like this,” he said.

Farooq Hamid Khan, a retired Pakistani brigadier and defence analyst based in Lahore, said Jadhav was no ordinary catch for Pakistan.

“He was not just a spy. Indian spy rings have been busted in the past. Jadhav is a serving Indian navy officer, who was working for RAW and involved in terror activities. He is a murderer. He is a terrorist.”