Pakistan has a strong case against Kulbhushan Jadhav: FO

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office on Thursday said that Pakistan’s case in the International Court of Justice against convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadev is very strong, and India has been unable to provide any answers against him.

FO spokesman Dr. Faisal Muhammad, while giving his weekly press briefing, was asked about the technical details regarding Pakistan recent counter-reply submitted to the ICJ and what is required to present the case against his involvement in sabotage and espionage.

The spokesman said the counter-memorial is a purely legal document containing comprehensive details regarding Jadhev, and has a step-wise response to all Indian objections in the case.

He said that India took the case of Jadhev to ICJ last year and after a provisional hearing, India was given a chance to submit its reply while Pakistan submitted its reply on 13 December, 2017.

This was followed by the submission of second replies, first by India and then by Pakistan on 17 July, 2018. Pakistan’s response was submitted by Dr. Fareha Bugti and Mr. Waseem Shahzad, First Secretary at Pakistani High Commission in The Hague, and now the formal hearing will commence.

He said that India is unable or unwilling to provide answers to many key questions regarding Kulbhushan Jadhev. Firstly, he said that Indian has been unable to answer why Jadhav possessed a passport in the name of Hussain Mubarak Patel.

He asked that if the passport was forged then how could Jadhav travel out of India seventeen times including from Mumbai and New Delhi, and if it was real then how could he possess a passport in a fake name.

Secondly, he said that India claimed that Jadhav was retired and was not a serving officer but failed to produce retirement or pension papers.

He reiterated that Pakistan case against India regarding Jadhav at the ICJ is very strong. He said that Jadhav was caught red-handed on Pakistani soil and was involved in espionage, subversive and terrorist activities.

He said the Foreign Office as a humanitarian gesture arranged the meeting between Jhadav and his mother and wife last year and has dealt with the case in a transparent manner.

He further said Indian interference in Pakistan is an established fact, and Indian statements threatening the territorial integrity of Pakistan are on record, indicating their hegemonic designs.

He added that Pakistan is fully equipped to defend itself against such nefarious designs, and India needs to act as a responsible member of the international community and desist from such actions.