ISLAMABAD/MULTAN: 49-year-old Indian Naval Officer Kulbhushan Jadhav – sentenced to death on charges of espionage – will be provided consular access on Monday 2nd of September, 2019.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said that Pakistan endeavored to maintain peace in the region and therefore Indian spy would be granted counselor access. Talking to Media in Multan today he maintained that Pakistan upheld a peaceful narrative and believed that war would be the last option between the two countries.
ISLAMABAD: FO has informed about Pakistan’s formal offer to India made a formal offer to India apropos granting of consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and awaits response from them.
Focusing on the dilemma of terrorism FO stated that PM was committed vis-à-vis the Afghan issue and matters related to the visit of Taliban as announced the Prime Minister are being finalized. Claiming that the country’s role in playing a pivotal role in taking forward the peace process had been widely acknowledged, FO maintained that Pakistan had been facilitating the talks with Taliban to bring peace, prosperity and stability in the region: “Pakistan will keep on supporting peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan,” FO added.
Commenting on the US President Donald Trump’s offer of mediation on Kashmir issue, FO held that Pakistan looks forward to efforts of the international community for resolution of the dispute. FO maintained that US President’s offer of mediation on Kashmir dispute was a monumental success of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
FO stressed that Kashmir was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, and the country would utilize all options under the UN resolutions if India proceeded to change status of occupied Kashmir in its constitution. FO pointed out that India recently had been committing frequent ceasefire violations along Line of Control, targeting civilians. FO had summoned the Indian High Commissioner on 28th and 30th of July 2019, and today as well and lodged a strong protest over the ceasefire violations. According to FO there are reports that ten of thousands of additional Indian troops were being deployed in occupied Kashmir, which would further deteriorate human rights situation in the held territory.
Commenting on the Kartarpur Corridor project, FO informed that seventy to eighty percent work had been completed on ground as well as on agreement. FO, while focusing on the US sanctions against Iranian FM Jawad Zarif, stated that Pakistan always believed that dialogue and diplomacy should be given a chance.
ISLAMABAD: In pursuant to the ICJ verdict of 18th July 2019 Foreign Office here has announced that Pakistan would grant consular access to Commander Kulbushan Jadhav, Indian spy.
FO stated that as a responsible state, Pakistan would grant consular access to Commander Kulbushan Jadhav according to Pakistani laws, for which modalities were being worked out. It has also been told that: “Commander Kulbushan Jadhav has been informed of his rights under Article 36, paragraph 1(b) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.”
It is pertinent to mention here that, rejecting remedies sought by India (annulment of the military court decision convicting Jadhav, restricting Pakistan from executing the sentence, securing Jadhav’s release and ordering his return to India) ICJ had asked Pakistan in its verdict to ensure effective review and reconsideration of his conviction and sentences.
He appreciated the effort made by the FO and legal team: “For the verdict to be upheld by an international court where there is no concept of capital punishment is a big victory for Pakistan…And for them to say that the review and reconsideration can be done by means of our own choosing is great validation for our judicial system…
“It’s another Feb 27 for India; they have been surprised again. They thought that the kind of political capital they have, they can manipulate justice too but that did not happen…(India’s) false narratives continue…after this verdict they are practically certified to have undertaken state-sponsored terrorism and the world has seen what their role in Pakistan has been.”
ISLAMABAD: PM Imran Khan took to the Twitter to ‘appreciate’ ICJ’s decision on Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case.
“Appreciate ICJ’s decision not to acquit, release and return Commander Kulbushan Jadhav to India. He is guilty of crimes against the people of Pakistan. Pakistan shall proceed further as per law.” he maintained.
