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Friday March 29, 2024

India launches diplomatic offensive in Europe to save spy Kulbhushan

By Murtaza Ali Shah
November 25, 2017
LONDON: The Indian government is making hectic efforts and lobbying European governments to seek a favourable decision in the case of Research & Analyst Wing (RAW) spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Commander Jadhav, a serving officer of Indian Navy, was sentenced to death in Pakistan on charges of spying after the spy was arrested red-handed on March 3, 2016 in a Pakistani city after entering Pakistan from Iran.
It has been learnt through diplomatic sources that Indian government officials have met over a dozen European governments on a special mission to win support for its case at the ICJ. The Indian envoys are using their trade relations with these countries to get their support.
The ICJ has ordered Pakistan to stay the execution of an Indian national convicted of spying. India approached the top UN court after Jadhav was convicted on charges of espionage and sabotage.
Diplomatic sources told that Indian government officials are meeting western diplomats in India as well separately to win support for Jadhav. Indian diplomatic offensive is aimed at ensuring that the ICJ gives decision in favour of its spy although Pakistan is not bound by the ICJ’s decision.
It is understood that Indian High Commission in London and its embassies in Paris and The Hague are working overtime to help Jadhav. It has taken help of many British and European parliamentarians as well for the lobbying effort in order to save its asset.
The Indian High Commission was approached for comment on the Indian diplomatic effort for its spy but a spokesman refused to comment. Indian envoys in Europe and elsewhere are holding these meetings with senior government officials, ministers and diplomats regularly on the issue of Commander Jadhav.
Jadhav, also known as Hussain Mubaraak Patel, was found in possession of an Indian passport issued by Indian government on May 12, 2015 and valid till May 11, 2024 at the time of his arrest. During interrogation he confessed that he is an Indian national and served in Indian Navy. He confessed that he was working for RAW and was tasked to sponsor acts of terror, killings and sabotage in Pakistan and sponsor terrorists working against Pakistan’s national interests.
Pakistan says that spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav has been tried according to the law of the land in a fully transparent manner by the court under Section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of the Official Secret Act of 1923.
During the trial, Jadhav confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by RAW to plan and coordinate espionage and sabotage activities aimed at destabilising and waging war against Pakistan.
India took the case to the ICJ which after the oral hearing ruled on 18 May 2017 granted provisional measures halting the execution of Commander Jadhav pending a final judgement of the court. Pakistan, despite a very short notice, appeared before the ICJ and after the intermediate judgement, assured the court of its compliance to the provisional measures judgement.
Diplomatic sources told this scribe that India is aware that it has no legal case, therefore, it is trying to make the case political and using its economic clout to flout the international laws in a brazen manner. The Indian judge in the ICJ has been issuing media statements, which are completely against the principles of neutrality and impartiality.
A diplomatic source, who is familiar with the moves India is making at the European level, confided that aim of Indian moves is to influence the proceedings at the ICJ through every means possible. This scribe has learnt that Pakistan has highlighted the Indian efforts to influence the case at the relevant fora, requesting neutrality.