New Delhi, Nov. 23 (TNS): India on Thursday said it wants security guarantees for Kulbhushan Jadhav’s wife from Islamabad before she can travel to Pakistan to meet convicted Indian spy.
Responding to Pakistan’s offer of access to Jadhav’s wife, made last week, India has replied with a set of riders.
Indian government was caught by surprise when Pakistan suddenly made the offer of access to Jadhav’s wife. The conditions detailed in the Indian response are intended to ensure the safety of the family.
Revealing the details of the Indian response, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar said, “we have conveyed that wife of Mr. Jadhav would like to travel along with her mother-in-law for the meeting. We have sought a sovereign guarantee from the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well-being of the wife and the mother of Mr Jadhav and that they shall not be questioned, harassed or interrogated during their visit and stay in Pakistan. We have further asked that a diplomat of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad shall be allowed to accompany them at all times, including during the meeting.”
The Indian response, like the Pakistani offer, was made as a note verbal to the Pak mission here and the foreign ministry in Islamabad. Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Saturday had confirmed receiving the response and said it was “being considered.”
Jadhav’s mother, Avantika, had applied for a visa to see him, an application Pakistan had not yet acted upon. Instead, Pakistan turned around and offered access to his wife. The Pakistani offer comes as the ICJ judgement on the Indian case is also around the corner. The world court has given Pakistan until December 13 to give in final documents on the case.
Pakistan maintains Jadhav was arrested on March 3, 2016, and showed videos where he is seen saying he was sent out by India to commit acts of terror in Pakistan targeting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
