Jadhav is a spy, not a common prisoner, Pakistan tells India

Spy’s activities caused an irreparable loss to Pakistani citizens’ lives and properties

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office says the Indian government portraying the convicted RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav, condemned to death for espionage and terrorist activities in Pakistan, as a common prisoner was an attempt to belie the truth.

This assertion came in the wake of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs “desire” to cooperate with Pakistan on humanitarian matters including for the welfare of incarcerated nationals which included citizens and fishermen.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “India remains committed to addressing on priority all humanitarian matters with Pakistan, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen.”

The Indian government had also renewed its demand for full and earlier counselor access to Jadhav and another national, Hamid Nehal Ansari. In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Office’s spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said India attempted to portray Jadhav as a common prisoner to belie the reality. 

“Jadhav was a spy sent to Pakistan for carrying out subversive activities. His activities have caused an irreparable loss to Pakistani citizens’ lives and properties,” he added. He said Indian subversive designs against Pakistan were exposed after the trial of Kulbhushan Jadhav and the confessional statement of Ahsanullah Ahsan. The spokesman said Indian barbaric activities against innocent Kashmiris in the Occupied Kashmir had also been exposed to the world.

He said Pakistan had informed the United Nations General Assembly and international community about the Indian atrocities and human rights violations in the Held Kashmir. Nafees Zakaria said Kashmiri people were struggling for their basic right to self-determination.

The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan was committed to implementing the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May, 2008 in letter and spirit.  A day before the two countries had exchanged lists of nationals incarcerated in each other’s prisons.

“This step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on 21 May, 2008, under which both countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other’s custody twice a year, on 1 January and 1 July, respectively, he said.

According to details, there is a total of 546 Indian nationals incarcerated in Pakistani jails of which 52 are citizens and 494 fishermen. The Indian government also handed a list of Pakistani inmates languishing in Indian jails over to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. According to the list, a total of 341 Pakistani citizens are in the Indian jails of which 263 are citizens and 78 fishermen.