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India accepts consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav; to meet today

New Delhi | India has accepted Pakistan’s offer for consular access to former navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav on Monday.

Indian officials are likely to meet Kulbhushan Jadhav today for two hours starting 12 pm.

Government sources said that Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia is expected to meet with Jadhav.

Officials have said that they “hoped” Pakistan would ensure the “right atmosphere” for the meeting, keeping with the letter and spirit of the ICJ order.

“We hope that Pakistan will ensure right atmosphere so that the meeting is free, fair, meaningful and effective in keeping with the letter and spirit of the ICJ orders,” a top government source said.

The acceptance comes following Pakistan on Sunday said it will grant consular access to Jadhav in accordance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict on July 17.

While Pakistan had offered consular access to Jadhav on August 1, there were conditions. It wanted one Pakistan official to be present alongside during the meeting.

The ICJ had put a stay on the death sentence ordered to Jadhav by Pakistan for alleged espionage.

ICJ had also asked Islamabad to inform Jadhav of his rights under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention and also grant India consular access.

Jadhav, 49, was sentenced to death by a Pakistan military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017, following which India had approached the ICJ for seeking a stay on the death sentence.

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